Precip

A couple of fronts moved through dropping the temperature about 15 degrees below normal for a few days.  Since I'm off the bike for another few weeks, it doesn't matter as even with a daily high of only low 50's, it's good for hiking.

I was going to hike to the top of the mountain on the right but alas, not a good idea to be walking on rock surfaces that have snow and ice so I went to the lower elevation Tucson Mountains to hike to the top of Golden Gate mountain.

A few miles west of the Catalinas and the sky always opens up except during an actual rain event. I had done little research for the hike, just kind of assumed I'd be able to find the point where one leaves the David Yetman trail.  I parked off Gates Pass Road, at the bottom of the great climb to the scenic view.

I ascended to a saddle, dropped down and at the southeast corner of the mountain, saw the above likely exit.  It petered out and now the trail was going away from the mountain so I turned around and retraced my route and then......

….face smack time.  I had missed this obvious point where not only was there a pile of rocks but a freaking stick extending from the center.  OK, now I know and will be back in a day or two to do the actual climb.  I.....

….headed back to the parking lot while clouds cast shadows on a nearby rock formation.  Finished with less than 3 miles and 700' of climbing.