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To the Window, Front Range of Catalinas

11/27/2018

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Another image, another distortion.  Sure, it looks like we are about to take a nice walk through the rolling plains of Kansas (without the cactus of course) but this is the Catalina Mountains and our small group of 9 have some serious climbing ahead.  Our destination is the Window, 6.5 miles distant and not visible here.
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Two are late to our party so we depart the parking lot at a slower pace, hoping they can catch and eventually one does, Cathy in blue, introducing herself.  Note all the wide brimmed hats, the common choice for desert hiking.
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Starting at 7:30am with a temperature of 45, required us to shed layers once the sun hit and the climbing began in earnest.  Our leader, Patrick on the left, Heidi on the right, making a change of clothes as we all did at one time or another.
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Higher we go and while doing so, the views improve dramatically to the southwest.  We have wound our way through and up Ventana Canyon finally reaching.....
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….Maiden Pools at roughly mile 2.8. The water was flowing at a trickle and the pools were mostly full.  A pleasant destination for many but we had much farther to go. We enjoyed somewhat of a respite as the trail crossed and recrossed the creek several times, always gaining elevation but not as severe as what was to come.
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At roughly mile 5, a rare glimpse of the window can be seen.  This is the best view of the full window as I will explain later. Now some serious climbing is confronted.  At this point, I had departed the group so I could go at my own pace and exist alone in a box of pain.
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From a couple of previous visits, I knew that once you reach a point where you are above the rock spire, you are close to a saddle and sure enough....
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…..I slog through the remaining switchbacks and am walking on a narrow ridge, looking at the jumble of rocks above that houses the window.  Yeah, still some climbing to go but....
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….the views are incredible.  The rolling walk along the ridge is a relief.  The climbing begins anew and it is important to look to the right so you don't walk past....
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….the window.  I have missed it previously.  A wonderous feeling to take the final steps....
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….into it.  Sling the backpack off, dig into a compartment for an apple or snack and just enjoy the magnificence of all that is around.
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It was not too windy but with a sweat soaked long sleeve shirt covered by a windbreaker, it wasn't long before the cold had me shivering and I was forced to depart. Because of the angle of the window and the sheer cliff close to its front and back, a straight on image is not possible.  However, you can see the walls are massive and the arch is unlikely to collapse anytime soon.
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Soon into my decent, I could see the balance of the hiking party walking along the ridge, they too enjoying the fantastic views and soon to take my place in the window.
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I continue down, down, down.  As usual, with a hike of this distance (13.5 miles) and elevation change of 4300', my legs and feet took a beating.  Ouch.
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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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