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| Peak 3300 and 3196 - Tucson Mtns, AZ | |
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| | Peak 3300 and 3196 - Tucson Mtns, AZ | | | |
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Peak 3300 and 3196 - Tucson Mtns, AZ
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| Hiking | 2.22 Miles |
1,228 AEG |
| | Hiking | 2.22 Miles | 2 Hrs 30 Mns | | 0.89 mph |
| 1,228 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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none
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| no partners | | Note: My stats are based on hiking Peak 3300 and the nearby Peak 3196.
I wanted a relatively short but exciting hike on New Year's day and this was a great fit! I wasn't sure of the best place to start this hike but was able to look at the satellite map and find a place that I thought would work. S. Mesquite Hills Pl is a private road so technically parking there is a gray area. Since it was New Year's day nobody was working. I found a construction site North of the cul-de-sac and felt like I could safely park there without any problems. I didn't see anyone outside so I parked my motorcycle on the shoulder, close to the construction site.
Looking up at the peak, it looked quite steep and I thought it might be better to first hike to the low saddle North of Peak 3196. After walking Southeast on a gravel road for 500 feet, I saw some private homes up ahead to the Southeast, but I also saw a possible route from where I was heading Southwest. I went South off the road and started an easy bushwhack in the direction of the summit. There was a rock slab ramp heading up which I was able to follow for a while until I got higher up. As I got higher up, the slope got steeper but I was able to zig-zag to keep moving efficiently. There was a dropoff to my right, so I just stayed left of the dropoff and kept going higher up. Eventually, the slope flattened out and I saw a way to get to the saddle East of Peak 3300. After getting to the saddle, I knew the rest would be fairly easy. I walked to the summit in only a few minutes from here. From the top, there was some great 360 degree views of the entire surrounding area. I was able to see a several buttes, and lower hills all around me. There were a lot of custom homes all around this peak. In the distance I had a good view of Cat mountain.
From this summit, I went back to the saddle East of Peak 3300. I didn't see any easy way to walk around the rocky high point to the East, so I decided to climb it. After climbing, I had a better view of Peak 3196. I saw a possible way down to the saddle North of Peak 3196. But, I had to walk partway down the rocky ridgeline to see that there were not any dropoffs. The ridgeline had a spiral like curve which I kept following down to the saddle. At the saddle, when looking up to Peak 3196, I could see some cliffs. The best way to summit 3196 was to hike to the right of the cliffs and up from there. When I got higher up, I found a channel leading up and a few cairns along the way. I followed this channel up to the main ridgeline and at that point, the grade became less steep. I continued up and was at the peak within a few minutes. At the top, I found a walking stick insect, something I have not seen in years. I got some photos and videos, stopped and had a lunch, and then hiked back down to the saddle, roughly the same way. I felt that my down route to the saddle was better than my up route from the saddle.
At the saddle, I decided to hike Northeast down the canyon heading down to the desert floor. I saw a few custom homes at the bottom, but felt that the brush was thick enough where I wouldn't be seen by any homeowners. I could also curve North near the bottom and stay further away from any private property. I didn't see any fences or signs the entire way. Not far down the canyon, I saw a lot of animal tracks in the dirt. After about 5 minutes of going downhill I saw a javelina run uphill only about 20-30 feet from me. Then, heard many other javelina below me. I saw some very young javelina but they were probably 50 feet away. Some of the javelina started climbing up the side of Peak 3196 away from me, including some of the little ones. I kept moving down and the terrain flattened out. From there I was able to work my way back to my starting point by zig-zagging through the desert brush. About 250 feet East from where I parked, South of the road, I found the jawbone of a javelina.
Stats:
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Distance (round trip): 2.22 miles
AEG: 1,228 feet
Strava moving time: 1 hr 25 mins
Strava elapsed time: 3 hrs 26 mins
Driving Directions:
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From Tucson, take I-19 South, continue for 1.0 mi.
Use the right lane to take exit 98 for Irvington Rd, continue 1.0 mi.
Use the right 2 lanes to turn right onto W Irvington Rd, continue for 3.5 mi.
Turn left onto S Mesquite Hills Pl
Note: This is a private road.
I drove to the end and found a cul-de-sac.
There was a construction site on the North side of the cul-de-sac.
I felt safe parking my motorcycle here.
I didn't see any neighbors outside. |
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Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
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