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| Hiking | 11.64 Miles |
4,419 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.64 Miles | 7 Hrs 3 Mns | | 1.94 mph |
| 4,419 ft AEG | 1 Hour 3 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | We headed up the stern mountain. Hadn't been on this hike since early 2017. Good memories on this one so I was elated for the opportunity.
Piestewa has rock-solid steps and low descending slip potential. Most steps are medium-reach, with a few extra-large steps. Echo has larger, odd-foot placement steps and cattywampus slip potential galore. #42 is burn baby burn rock-solid steps on a bevy of placement angles and medium descending slip potential.
Didn't take long for me to recall how much I enjoy ascending, albeit slower now. Yet I was increasingly antsy about holding up the group on the return.
Two hikers, 30 years younger, passed at a clip I'm not sure I've ever been passed. I used to have an "oh, we'll fix that" attitude. Borderline beat to a pulp, best to accept.
Linda mentioned that Matt's mind would drift to his, yes, plural, smokers at home in the final miles. That was the old Matt. Brisket entered the conversation within hours, and ribs were consumed soon after(Snack break).
Matt elected to feast at LV Saddle while the balance hit Kimball. Chilly pockets and waves of sprinkles onward to Kimball. 10s said he'd been up, but we introduced him to reality. A three-flake blizzard was surprising. Then, 3 minutes after it snowed, the sun broke out for the first time. Matt mentioned squirrels or chipmunks on the peak. We didn't see any, and I forgot if we were supposed to bring a few back for him to barbecue. Just some noisy birds. Linda named all the distant peaks. I got Lemmon correct.
I slowed down the group descending. We just caught Matt before he'd waited long enough. Which is cool because I barely conversed with the thirteen-year HAZ'r on the ascent.
It was undoubtedly mentioned days ago, but news to me that we would be descending Pontatoc. The upper leg has been reworked by the Hoka foundation. Lofty zigzagging tricycle grade trails usually blow but holy wow what a blessing with terrific Tucson views.
Sometimes you don't know people until you hike with them. Matt has the zest of his avatar, loaded with character, but he turns 85 next year. It was refreshing to hear terms like javelina house instead of cumulus and nimbus.
Good to get back to Tucson for a change, hear the chronicle lifestyle of Idaho or Bust, meet the rat, and hike with the relevant wordy flip side of LP. Worthy hike on two hours' sleep. |
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