Baboquivari Mountain

Mac planned this hike for the four of us last week. It's a place on the Tohono O'Odham reservation about 80 miles South of Tucson. The mountain is a special mountain for the Indian Nation. In the old days, it was said to be the center of the earth and the place where the Elder Brother taught the Tohono O'Odham how to live in the desert. It is 7,735 feet to the top of the peak. It isn't possible to hike all the way to the top without using mountain climbing gear. Our hike will end about 1,000 feet short of the summit, at the cliff face.

Baboquivari Peak as seen on the dirt road approach from the Southwest

The write ups on it call for a 4 mile one way hike. When we finished, my GPS unit indicated we hiked a little over 10 miles, round trip. The elevation change is at 3,250 feet, from the trail head to the base of the peak. That calls for a steady climb the whole way.

Mac took this pic of Cathy, me and Dave shortly after we started out.

We left the RV park bright and early at 7:00. It was tough for me to get out of bed. Yesterday was a huge day with golf and the moon lit hike, and very little time to get anything to eat. Then, I spent time preparing my pack with enough food to carry me through this hike. I was dragging when I got up. I think I was only 10 minutes late. Since I was the driver today, I knew I wouldn't be left behind!

A rest stop in the shade.

Wildflowers are still in bloom out here.

We were at the trail head and on the trail at 9.05. It was an hour and forty five minute drive. Twenty five miles were over dirt and gravel rock roads. On the way, I kicked up a rock with my truck and it thumped hard underneath. My "service 4WD" light instantly came on, though I didn't have 4WD engaged. I stopped to see if I broke anything. We couldn't see any leaks or obvious damage, so we moved on.

An outcropping through flowering Ocotillo.

The trail was constructed by the CCC, Civilian Conservation Corps, in the 1930's. Now, it is said to require a permit from the tribe to hike the area. We didn't see any instructions to do so. We decided to take our chances and if asked, we would then gladly pay what ever the fee may be.

Our goal is at the lower right of the dark cliff face visible in the center of the pic.

The trail surprised us. It was a well maintained, well marked, trail out here away from everything. There is even a nice picnic/camping area at the trail head with clean flush toilets. The fences and ramadas were made from Ocotillo. Even though the Ocotillo were cut and strapped or wired together for fencing, they were alive, green and blooming!

A view down a canyon with Mexico in the background.

It took us a little over 4 hours to get to the base of the cliff. People have climbed all the way to the top. They used mountain gear. The walking stops at the cliff base. There is even a geocache at the summit. I forgot to check the web site to see if there were any on the trail. Then again, I was too tired at the time anyway and would probably have passed on it.

Almost there.

The last half mile of the trail was the only portion of the trail where there were over growths of vegetation. Who ever is doing the maintenance, is doing a fantastic job. There is evidence of recent trimming and trail repairs all the way up. It can't be an easy thing to do.

Another rest stop on the mountain.

When we got to the top, we ate our picnic lunches we packed. I made tuna salad sandwiches and packed them with a small packet of Blue Ice. I was afraid they might not keep without the ice pack. Boy, were they good! I had two quart bottles of water and wished I brought more. I never thought water could taste so good! We shared munchies and snacks with one another. It wasn't hot. The sun was out and a cool breeze helped.

This is Mac on "The Great Ramp", at the cliff face at trial's end, with the remaining 1,000 feet of peak above him.

It was a steady 5 mile climb to get to the end. I wasn't tired though! I think I am getting acclimated to these hikes.

We cut about a half hour's time off on the way down. My truck, thankfully, showed no sign of the rock hit it took. I was worried that it may not run right when we got back down. I'm waiting for Tucson Dodge to get back to me on a recall issue. I'll have them look at this problem when I get an appointment for the recall.

One more wildflower pic.

We stopped at the grocery store in Sells for 32 ounce sodas with lots of ice. I finished mine long before we got back and chewed on the ice the rest of the way. Man oh man! I never thought water could taste so good!

For more pics from today, check out the slide show on the side bar.