The Ride That Wasn't but a Great Hike to Thimble Peak

Somehow, I thought the big Thanksgiving ride, at which over 150 cyclists came out, began at 11:00am.  Great start time with temp in mid 60's and riding in the 70's for most of the ride.  Alas, 11:00am was the estimated finish time.  I didn't realize this until well after the ride start so frustrated I wondered, what to do, what to do....do a hike I've not done before!  So I drove to the Gordon Hirabayashi parking area at mile 8 of the Catalina Highway, geared up and shoved off at about 10:30am.  At the top of a ridge, the above view unfolds.

The trail to Sycamore Reservoir descends, steeply at times, until the canyon above, populated by trees whose leaves are turning.

The dam still works but gunk is filling the reservoir so the water depth is not much.  The excess flows into the canyon beyond but it is hard to get a pic of that unless I climb over the protective concrete wall and scale a cliff so no time for that.  I've got a lot of miles and some route finding ahead of me

In the distance, my destination, Thimble Peak.  It is a prominent point on the skyline from various points around Tucson and it has been a goal destination since I first visited the area. I retrace the 50 yards back to the main trail and continue to follow it for about half a mile as it meanders parallel with a dry stream bed.  I knew to watch for a large stack of rocks (cairn) to signal when to exit this trail left.

I find it and follow an obvious trail to the Bear Canyon trail where the spur trail I am on dead ends.  I make a note not to miss this spur trail on the return because it would be easy to do.  Turning left, the BC trail is gently rolling as it heads toward the above ridge.

Always interesting rock formations along the way.

I arrive at a flat, grassy area called Thimble Flat.  The Bear Canyon trail begins to rotate away from Thimble Peak but prior to that, there is a large pile of rocks indicating it's time to hang a right.  The trail now is hard to follow and at times....

....it seems like the original route pioneer missed a great opportunity to shift the route just a few yards higher which would have yielded great views into Sabino Canyon.  While the route is hard to follow....

....the destination is obvious so just keep trekking up.

Oh wow.  Reaching the base of the peak, there is Sabino Canyon on the right and to the left of it, Blackett's Ridge.  Many times I have hiked to the top of that and looked at Thimble Peak.  I was thrilled to have finally made it but now the peak itself....

....there are two peaks separated by a chimney.  I took off my pack and began the class 4 climb.  Doable even by a non climber like me but there was a spot that I could climb but getting back down it without someone below to help with a foot placement.... 

I circled around to the west side of the south peak and found another chimney but it too had a couple of places where there were no hand holds and a rope would be required.  With a rope it would be easy but I had no rope nor the means to attach one above me.  I read there are some anchors left behind by climbers but I needed a climber with a rope to attach to the anchors.  Oh well, I retraced the route, walked right by that spur trail about which I had warned myself earlier, discovered my mistake and kept going, eventually running into.....

....this little guy.  I reached my car with 10.6 miles and about 2600' of climbing.  As I cruised down the highway I....

....was stopped by the above. Soon, he pulled out of the way and collected a SAR person and a Sheriff's car pulled in line too.  We continued down the highway for awhile and then saw.....

....a helicopter.  Must have had to transport a distressed hiker. So, I'm tailing a car going 1-2 mph below the 35 speed limit.  I see a cyclist approach from behind and he passes us both on the left.  Guy was flying.  Eventually, the car pulls to the side to allow me around and I speed up to catch.....

....the cyclist.  By far the fastest descent I've witnessed as I had trouble staying in contact.  Then....

.....I passed a couple of busloads of UofA football players, headed for an over night hotel stay to get ready for their rivalry game against AZ State on Friday.  Even though they are the home team, they stay at a hotel the night prior to the game.  What a beautiful day and tomorrow, Friday will be great with sun and temps in the upper 70's but a cold front is coming, yuck.