Kitt Peak Climb

The destination, the observatory cluster at the top of Kitt Peak.  A 12 mile climb that gains a bit over 4500'.  FOB (friend of blog) Lori Nedescu had a time of 1:03 recently, one of the top times.  Last year, I had a time of 1:59 (kind of sad I know) but that was early in my visit so let's see....

All these images were taken while I was coasting down as I did not stop during the ascent.  The route does almost a complete 360 so the views are always changing, albeit slowly.

While Mount Lemmonh as an average grade of 5.5%, Kitt is 6%.  The first 3 miles are 3-5% but after that...ouch.  Seems like every time I look at the Garmin it says 6-9%.  Yet, my legs felt unusually good and I enjoyed ticking of the miles every 8 minutes or so.  I hit mile 6 at 45 minutes and actually did the final 6 in less then that, which is slightly steeper.

Getting closer.....

....and the famous Baboquivari Peak, that triangular feature in the distance, comes into view.

The road twists below and then....

...a good sign.  Unfortunately, the final couple of miles is as hard as those that came before them.  My left leg begins twitching with a cramp.  It would suck to put in this effort and have that affliction but I stood, stretched and all was ok.

On the doorstep of the finish and I made it in 1:29.  My legs still felt fairly good so I should have put in more effort.  I think I will come back one more time, maybe a pound or two lighter.

I saw a woman sitting in the back of a hatch back so I asked if she would mind taking a picture.  Before she did, I asked her to wait to make sure I pulled the shorts up and jersey down, saying I did not want to look fat.  Then and only then did I realize she was like 300 pounds.  I am so dense some times.  She did not seem to notice and I talked to her for awhile, another Midwestern transplant.