To the Top of Movie Mountain

Actually, it is Golden Gate mountain, the day after my failed effort at reaching it.  I parked again on Gates Pass Road, ascended the Yetman Trail, found the rock cairn that I had missed the prior day and headed up.  There are an abundance of cairns to lead the way but be warned the climb up to.....

….the first saddle has an average grade of 32%!  Only .65 miles but a hard climb. The snow capped Catalinas in the distance.  The route goes behind the mountain and ascends for a bit before another saddle is reached and....

….the final destination is reached.  

Great views from this saddle too.  I didn't think I would see anyone else but at the top, on this day with a high still only in the 50's and cooler up here.....

….a Canadian was sunning himself.   There is a gun range at the base of the south side of the mountain.  I walked over and looked but stranger things have happened then getting caught with a ricochet so we both stayed back.

Big Cat mountain in the distance.  I've climbed to the top of Little Cat but never Big Cat. Tried it once but got discouraged and turned around.

The Rincons in the distance.  I signed the summit registry and headed down.  Looking back at the final climb once.....

….again, be careful if you ascend this too.  That final pitch, while short is very rocky with some boulder hopping required.  A slip would not be good.

At the aforementioned first saddle. I get a good look at the tiny parking lot where I am parked and Gates Pass Road as it winds toward the scenic view parking lot.

I take another good look at the Catalinas and continue a careful descent of that kind of sketchy, 32% slope.

I reach my car and look once again at Gates Pass.  A good climb that, on the bike.  No berm though and lots of distracted drivers. Finish with 2.6 miles and 1400' of climbing.  Oh, the movie issue.  On the other side of the mountain is Old Tucson  where many dozens of westerns were filmed so this mountain has been seen in the background of many of those.  For more info: ​https://oldtucson.com/