Picacho Peak - Hike to the summit - don't forget your gloves!

While at Tortilla Flat we were told we should hike to the top of Picacho Peak and to be sure to bring gloves as part of the hike requires holding onto cables.  Here it is off in the distance.  Picacho peak is believed to be 22 Million years old - 4 times older than the Grand Canyon

Let the games begin.  It is a 3 mile round trip hike.  Picacho Peak has been use as a navigational landmark for hundreds of years, was the site of Arizona's only Civil War battle, is a geographic spectacle, and it has petroglyphs from prehistoric Hohokams - but we didn't see any.

Getting closer - figure we'll get to that next level turn right and then turn and go up to the summit. 

We get up to the Saddle - the view is great.  But where is the trail up?

Gary says he thinks it's this way - but wait a minute that goes down . .

and down . . . 

and down. . . .

and down.  Apparently after the Saddle the fun begins.

This is where the cables come into play.  In 1932 a 10' light beacon was installed at the peak for air traffic navigation.  Hunter trail was built the Civil Conservation Corp to facilitate servicing the beacon.  It was removed in 1965.

It's a fairly strenuous hike in spots. 

Then what goes down goes back up!

You can barely see the cables from here. 

Here's a closer view of a group going up.

Here's a volunteer that passed us earlier working on tightening the cables. 

Gary the Cable Guy

Made it! 

A great recommendation and a great hike!

Till Later,

Meanwhile, we keep on Trek'n

Melissa & Gary