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Rattlesnake Peak Exploratory

2/6/2021

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I park at the Sabino Canyon over flow lot. Some where in the distance is Rattlesnake Peak but not sure which one.  This is an exploratory hike although I held out some hope I'd make it to the peak but typically, for hikes like this, it takes me 1 or 2 efforts to figure out the way.
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I take the trail out of the parking area, reach Sabino Canyon Road, follow it briefly and then make a left onto Esperero Trail.  Later I figured out there is a back trail that saves half a mile.  Then I go off trail and wind my way through somewhat dense brush.  Although I have a gps track to follow, I stay too low and miss.....
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....being on top of the above.  Again, later, I return and stay up there and that too was easier.  I was wasting a lot of time, checking the track, winding through the thicket but that is part of the learning process.  Won't make the same bonehead mistakes next time...just a time killer those.
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But hey!  The views were great.
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I work around the obstacle, climb up to where I should have been and gain the top of the ridge, much later than when I should have been up there.
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In the distance, a number of peaks and still unsure which is the destination.
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Hey, how bout that, a nice cairn.  I am aware there is another route coming from the right but it is longer than the route I have chosen. Here though, they meet and I now had cairns to follow, at times.
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I enter a burn area that is quite extensive.  Hiking is much easier now although some of the climbing is quite steep as I gain one prominence after another.
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In the distance, still some snow on the Rincons.
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Someone had made a nice cairn using a fallen saguaro as a platform. The slope above it is way steep.
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Finally, I realize which of the peaks is Rattlesnake, the one to the left.  Left of it is....
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....Cathedral Rock.  Beyond Rattlesnake, there is a way down to Hutch's Pools and a return on West Fork trail to the top of Sabino Canyon Road.  
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I climbed too far up a prominence and had to retrace my route a little.  Seeing what was ahead of me, I figured time was going to be a problem but the way forward seemed obvious.  Thinking I'd run out of time, I decided to turn around and grab the peak another day, rather than fall just short farther up. I wasted at least an hour wandering around down range.
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On the slopes, I noticed a lot of deer scat.  Amongst it was the above and I could not identify it.  There was no hair in it so likely not from a carnivore.  Upon reaching Esperero Trail, I crossed directly over it, gaining a new trail that is a back way to the parking lot.  This would save over a mile on a return to the Peak.
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The over flow lot was quite full and slightly above it to the right, the regular Sabino Canyon parking lot was too.  Finished with 5.5 miles and 2200' of climbing.
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    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

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