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Memorial Day Hike: Mt. Lemmon Summit to Catalina State Park (Part 3)

Unknown flower on the backside of Mt. Lemmon, Tucson, AZThe Arizona Trail near the summit of Mt. Lemmon north of Tucson, AZMy friend Eleanor Thorne commented on the last segment "Were you crazy?" To which I freely admit that sometimes, I am. This was one of those times.

Six or seven miles into the hike, we came to one of the really steep parts. The trail was a series of switchbacks, taking us back and forth down a 30 to 40 degree slope for more than a one and a half miles--without a break. The two teenagers ran down and around granite promontories, and then ran back up to report what they'd seen up ahead. Kids!

Northwesterly view from the backside of Mt. Lemmon at 6,500'If it were possible to bottle their energy and sell it, I would have paid a grand sum for just a little. My quadriceps, under the constant tension of the downhill steps, were beginning to give out.

We had plenty of Gator Ade, and I had brought potassium pills, so cramping wasn't a problem, but boy, was I glad to stop when we reached a level spot at about 6,500 feet. We stopped for lunch at one of the most beautifully rugged places I've seen in my ten years here in Tucson.

The colors remind me of old time hand-painted postcards from my grandparents' era.

We had initially planned that the hike would take seven or eight hours. By lunchtime, we were only a little more than halfway, and we knew two things: 1. It was going to take more than double our estimate, and 2. The steepest part of the descent was still in front of us.

Memorial Day Hike Down Mt. Lemmon to Catalina State Park, Tucson, Arizona (Part 1)

Memorial Day Hike: Mt. Lemmon Summit to Catalina State Park (Part 2)

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, Arizona mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Think of me as your local expert.

Posted Wednesday Jun 04
( 06/04/08 12:27PM ) — Phoenix Arizona Real Estate ~ Doreen McPherson

OK, now you really have me in suspenders!  Did you stay the night?  Did you do it all in one day?  Yikes!  


Teenagers, All I have to do is watch my nieces and nephews and I'll feel my age!  :) 


 

( 06/04/08 12:30PM ) — Jim & Maria Hart ~ Charleston, SC Real Estate

Sounds like you had a blast, Mike. Maria and I love to take long hikes as well. I hope that you have a great week, Jim

( 06/04/08 12:31PM ) — Susie Blackmon-Maggie Valley Waynesville NC Realtor/RE Blogger/Photographer

Can't wait for the next installment.  Can't you tell Doreen and I since we are #1 and #2 responders?


( 06/04/08 12:35PM ) — Mike Jones

Susie and Doreen,


(Just for you)  It got dark, and we saw rattlesnakes in our path...  The hike took 17 hours, but we're getting ahead of ourselves...


Jim and Maria,


Thanks for commenting from the great state of South Carolina!  (I was born in Columbia back in the dark ages.)


Mike in Tucson

( 06/04/08 01:01PM ) — Fran 'The Title Man' Gaspari Title Insurance-PA & NJ

Mike,


These are great posts...even though I had to get caught up by reading the first two!!! Keep em comin' ! Thanks,   Fran

( 06/04/08 02:14PM ) — Linda Scanlan

Mike, it's beautiful country, but you're more out of your mind ambitious than I am!

( 06/04/08 05:46PM ) — Joan Mirantz- Concord New Hampshire Realtor

Ohhhh Michael, Michael, Michael!

( 06/04/08 08:55PM ) — Donna Paul- Long Island Home Specialist Suffolk and Nassau County

WOW MIKE... YOUR PICTURES ARE AMAZING...I would to visit.....

( 06/04/08 10:35PM ) — Terry Westbrook ~ Realtor(R) Grand Rapids Mi Ada/Cascade Real Estate

Are we going to see your photos in National Geographic Magazine?  We have such great places to visit here.

( 06/04/08 10:59PM ) — Kent Simpson REALTOR®, CNS®, AHS®, RECS®

Wonder who did the sign for the trail with those cutout letters...would make a really cool sign rider!

( 06/05/08 12:06PM ) — Don Rogers REALTOR®, CRS O'Fallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

Mike,


Do you keep a log on these trips?  The detail is awesome and I am enjoying the read.


Don R.

( 06/05/08 03:02PM ) — Bill & Barbara Jo - Florida Realty Professional - AHWD

Mike - thank you for sharing these photos! Absolutely beautiful!

( 06/05/08 11:35PM ) — Fairbanks Ak Real Estate Broker Jesse Clifton 907-699-6024

You're getting you workout in, that's for sure... but what a beautiful hike.

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