Lisa and I decided to tackle Pusch! Admittingly, I had no desire to hike the Catalina's front range. My impression of the lower range was bleak, bleak, bleak. Boy was I ever wrong. This hike is lush desert.

I wouldn't recommend the August hike as we did without an early start. You do have almost three hours of shade in the canyon if you're quick enough to put that to your advantage. We took about ten breaks and enjoyed the surroundings. The gnats were unbearable at times, putting this trip into my top five worst bug annoying hikes. I'm still not hitting the Tucson peaks saying wow like I do in the Superstitions, but the hike itself ruled.

Just a hundred feet shy from a Flatiron ascent this one is daunting knowing it's the baby to nearby Table and Kimball.