Pusch Peak Hike

The western edge of the Catalinas with Pusch Peak in the foreground with Bighorn and Buster mountains in the background.  A very difficult climb this one.

Shoving off the trail head one follows a well worn path until reaching a signed junction that advises you are now entering an unmaintained area.  This is where the fun begins as the faint trail heads up at a ridiculously steep angle.  After one mile I am well over 1000' of climbing and that includes the opening part where it is not that steep.  I arrive at a 12' vertical granite wall and scamper up and over.  Fun stuff that scrambling.

One way to know if a trail is well traveled is if the cactus edges have been worn smooth.  Nope, looks like the full compliment of needles is showing as few people climb this trail.  Probably averages one a day.

Higher I go with fabulous views to the northwest.

Higher and higher the knee buckling route goes.  I'm always fascinated by these ridges which remind me of the back of a Stegosaurus.  Finally, after almost 2 hours of climbing I reach....

....the peak.  It was a 2700' gain in 2 miles.  Crazy.

Some clouds linger in the area from the recent rains that thankfully have dropped the moisture, always welcome and then moved on.

The adjoining bighorn Mountain.  All off trail to that peak and the vegetation is thick.  I hiked about a 1/4 mile down and concluded reaching it could be done but for another day.

As I hiked the joint crushing route back down, I passed two of these motion cameras that are activated at night when animals (or humans) cross in front.

About half way down the trail splits with an option to go out to the point shown above.  It is a worthy day hike option too.  The Tucson Mountains are in the distance.  Well, that was Thursday.  On Friday I jumped in with a group at La Buzz and participated in a 40 mile bike ride.  I was so much looking forward to the Bicycle Ranch group ride tomorrow, which was cancelled last week due to rain but furniture is scheduled to be delivered between 9-1:00pm.  Even though I am certain it will be exactly at 1:00 that they will arrive, can't take that chance.