McCleary Peak Loop Photoset • GrottoGirl • 2011-09-10 • HikeArizona.COM

McCleary Peak Loop, AZ

	2011-09-10
	21 by GrottoGirl

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McCleary Peak Loop

Tucson, AZ

McCleary Peak Loop

Tucson, AZ

Hiking	10.40 Miles	4,441 AEG

Hiking	10.40 Miles
	4,441 ft AEG

Linked

linked

Pipeline Trail - Santa Ritas

Crest Trail #144 - Santa Rita Mtns

88 Mac

Partners

partners

Baja Arizona Hiking

RedwallNHops

We did a variation of this hike today on an Alt Hiking Meetup. Luckily, there were only four of us and everyone was a "regular" so there was no "drama"!

In the morning the weather was perfect. It was cool and there was a breeze. We headed up the Super Trail and jumped on the Pipeline Route. From there we went on the 4 Springs trail. We stopped for a snack break at Shovel Saddle.

Then we continued on to the saddle next to McCleary Peak. We bushwhacked/rock scrambled up to the peak and hung out for a bit. It was actually quite cool. The views from the peak were really nice. It was awesome to see from afar the places where we had ventured a couple of weeks ago (Pete Mountain and Mt. Hopkins). We also got a good view of Mt. Wrightson and 88 Mac as well as Florida Peak.

From there we continued on the 4 Springs trail and were delighted by the flowers. 3 weeks ago there were Columbines, Richardson Geraniums, and Dayflowers. They had all been replaced by a sea of yellow. There was water in several of the drainages and everything was very lush. We got on the Crest trail and headed to Pine Saddle. Pine Saddle was full of flowers again. From there we bushwhacked up to 88 Mac.

88 Mac is another great place to enjoy the view of the surrounding peaks. We sat and read the log books which went back to the early 90s. 88Mac was named by the Southern Arizona Hiking Club. We also learned that Pine Saddle had burned in May of 1993. Many of the hot shots, helitack crew, and associated crews had done 88 Mac on May 27, 1993. While we were sitting there I noticed that I had ants crawling on my clothes. In the end I even had ants in my pants

We decided to cut our trek a bit short and we bushwhacked down from Pine Saddle to Shovel Saddle and then retraced our steps back to the car.

What an awesome way to spend a day! We finished it with a stop to get ice cream and espresso!

Wildflowers Observation Substantial

	Armour Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Enough standing water to get a few liters.

	Kent Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	The spring box is full.

	Sylvester Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	The spring box is full.

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