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| Climbing | 8.00 Miles |
4,259 AEG |
| | Climbing | 8.00 Miles | 10 Hrs 30 Mns | | 0.76 mph |
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| 4,259 ft AEG | | | |
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| partners | | Well Baboquivari has been one of the mountains on my wish list for a long time. I figured I would never learn the skills for a technical climb like this, so I wrote it off as a long off wish list hike. Some friends took the AMC rock climbing class last fall and then they started climbing things I've always wanted to do. Two other friends (Scott and Brian) convinced me to take the AMC class in the spring so I signed up and we all learned the basics.
Feeling confident that we could hands some climbing now I contacted Suz to find us a lead climbing for Babo. Within 24 hours She replied back and had a friend (Nestor) who would lead for us. The planning began and two weeks out of the AMC class we had a date with Babo. Saturday we hiked some stuff in the area and we met up near the Eastside TH to drop a car off and all pile in Nestors FJ for the 8 mile ride to camp. There were some Border Patrol vehicles parked at the dirt road turnoff so we talked to them and got an update on the conditions/situation in the area.
The road in was pretty good but not something for a car, a Subaru Forester did make it though. We set up camp at the sign that said no camping beyond this point. There was a fire ring and enough room for the 5 of us. We found some stuff to burn and had a retired early for an early start the next day. We hit the trail at 7am and just walked from our campsite adding 3/4mile to the trip, but it's an easy road so it didn't matter. The hike is on private land but it's posted that hiking is allowed but can be rovoked at any time. We pass by the McGee ranch house and continue up the 4 mile hike to the saddle. It gains about 2500 feet so there are some steep and scree filled sections. The trail is a little overgrown in spots but you should have no problem following it.
At the saddle we take a quick break to recharge the batteries and then a steeper climb begins before the technical portion, this 1/2 mile stretch was overgrown and just a bit of a pain, still no problems staying on path. We climb a gully and reach the base of the first pitch. We throw on our harness, climbing shoes and helmets and Nestor climbs right up it with no problem. He sets up a rope and belays us up. You have to squeeze between a chokestone about 20' up, it's no problem but with a heavy pack (I still had the second rope in my pack) I was glad to be roped. A short scramble from there and that takes us to the great ramp. We all just start climbing it up roped as it's mostly a scramble but does get steeper at the top. It was definitely at the upper edge of what I would like to do unroped. Another scramble around the corned and were at the base of the 3rd pitch, called the ladder pitch. There used to be a medal ladder there that was put in around the 30's I believe. Just some hangers and brackets remain. This pitch is probably about 100-120', an easy climb though. Again Nestor just scrambles right up it, at the top there are two bolts and a small chain to clip into. The rest climb it roped with no problems.
Some more scrambling and few 4th class mini pitches and we traverse our way to the summit. I think we made it there about 12:30. We take about an hour up top and enjoy the views. Kitt peak to the North, Lemmon & Wrightson & Miller to the East and Mexico to the South. It was a great day for climbing, warm in the sun and cool in the shade with breeze. We head back down the mountain and setup rappels for all 3 pitches. They were climbed up with ease but I wouldn't want to down climb any of them unroped. The first two are double rope rappels but the third is a short one.
We take another break at the saddle and begin our hike back down. It was nice to have shoes on again, but I wished I could just rappel back to the car. Nestor goes ahead and pulls the FJ up the closest gate saving us the last 3/4 mile, what a guy. We have a celebratory beer and head back to the car getting a little air along the way. Yes a FJ can get airborn on a dirt road. Back at the car it is in 1 piece and the border partol has a greyhound type bus pulled over with 8-10 people corraled up sitting down. It was only 100 yards from the car. There was some obvious signs of crossings along the trail with empty gallon jugs and canned goods. Some that was there on the way down but not on the way up, but we never saw anybody. It's not neally as bad as the area around Miller Peak.
Back at the car we had a nice sunset of Babo on the way back to Tucson. It was an amazing day and I was glad to have some good friends along for it.
-TIM- |
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