|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 5.60 Miles |
1,198 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.60 Miles | 3 Hrs 10 Mns | | 1.77 mph |
| 1,198 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Took Tyler G to the airport and wasn't far from this hike so I decided it would be a good day to attempt it. The high temp for Tucson today was supposed to be 76 so I thought up in these mountain areas it could be a few degrees cooler, which would make for ideal hiking temperatures.
The road was a bit tricky in a few places as it was washed out in some areas and I had to cross 2 small ditches which nearly caused me to bottom out. This nearly reached the end of my comfort level with my capable 4x4 high clearance Chevy truck. Then, further out, after seeing 2 and 3 foot tall thorn bushes right in the middle of the road, I decided to park off the side of the road near the road junction which is North of Martina peak.
I walked about 2/3 of a mile West on road heading out to Sharp peak. After that point, I blazed my own trail Northwest, crossed several shallow washes, often seeing evidence of cattle. The terrain was fairly open and there were many ways to go. The vegetation was not thick, probably because the cattle grazed much of it. I wondered where the cattle got water in these areas. After reaching the base of Sharpe mountain, I was able to climb up to a low saddle South of the peak. From there, I could see a fairly easy way up. It was a scramble with only a few exposed areas near the very top. I made it to the top and found a registry which I signed. Looking off in the distance I could see a large pond a few miles away which is where the cattle must get their water.
On the way down I took a slightly more direct route. It got dark as I approached the final 1 or 1.5 mile of this hike. After getting to the road, I saw 10 or 20 head of cattle looking right at me. It was dark so all I saw where the eyes. I decided to walk around them not knowing how they might react. With just a head lamp on, they couldn't see me, so they didn't run away which is what they definitely would have done during the daytime.
Compared to Martina peak, I found Sharp peak to be more enjoyable because of the open country, the various shallow washes, and the rock was more stable overall. The only tricky areas of this hike were ascending from the low saddle, and the rock scramble near the very top.
AEG = 1,198 feet |
| _____________________
Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
 |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
