Point 5001 and Saddleback Ridge - 4.27.2017
I started this scramble from the Sabino Canyon Visitor Center... where I found the Bear Canyon Trailhead.
|
Leaving the visitor center on the Bear Canyon Trail #29... a very broad dirt trail... Blackett's Ridge is in the distance... where I will find Phone Line Trail #27.
|
After hiking Bear Canyon Trail #29 for .4 miles it becomes a paved road... follow signs for '7 Falls'.
|
The paved Bear Canyon Trail is heading directly for Blackett's Ridge in this photo.
|
A person might be tempted to go left at this intersection... but go right and continue to follow signs for '7 Falls'.
|
After hiking .8 miles cross this bridge and look for the sign for Phone Line Trail #27.
|
Taking Phone Line Trail #27.
|
After hiking Phone Line Trail #27 for .1 miles I found the intersection with Bear Canyon Trail #29... but I will stay on the Phone Line Trail.
|
After hiking the Phone Line Trail for .4 miles I reach the intersection with Blackett's Ridge Trail #48... but I will stay on the Phone Line Trail.
|
Gaining elevation on the Phone Line Trail... looking down on Sabino Canyon.
|
After hiking the Phone Line Trail for .8 miles I have reached the junction with the Phone Line Link Trail #27A which goes down into Sabino Canyon... but I will stay on the Phone Line Trail.
|
Continuing along the Phone Line Trail... looking back down Sabino Canyon to Tucson and the Tucson Mountains.
|
Still on the Phone Line Trail... looking up at Point 4409 on Blackett's Ridge.
|
Watch for this pipe... I have hiked a total of 3 miles (.8 miles on the Bear Canyon Trail and 2.2 miles on the Phone Line Trail)... this is where I will leave the maintained trail and head SE on steep, loose terrain toward Saddleback Ridge.
|
Gaining elevation on steep terrain toward Saddleback Ridge... looking down on the Phone Line Trail and Sabino Canyon.
|
Still gaining elevation toward Saddleback Ridge... looking up at Thimble Peak on the right... and down on Sabino Canyon and the Phone Line Trail.
|
Looking at Point 4409 on Blackett's Ridge as I continue up toward Saddleback Ridge.
|
Nearing Saddleback Ridge... and a nice look at Point 4409 on Blackett's Ridge.
|
I've reached Saddleback Ridge... now turning east in search of Point 5001 on steep terrain.
|
Gaining elevation on Saddleback Ridge... looking back at Point 4409 on Blackett's Ridge... Sabino Canyon on the right... with Bear Canyon on the left.
|
Lots of nice rock formations on Saddleback Ridge... with the Santa Rita Mountains on the left horizon.
|
Beautiful country on Saddleback Ridge.
|
Still gaining elevation on Saddleback Ridge... looking back at Point 4409 on the far left.
|
Did I mention the nice rock formations on Saddleback Ridge... looking at Point 4409 in the center of the photo... and the Tucson Mountains on the horizon.
|
Looking past the cliff in the foreground to Point 5001... Bear Canyon is below... with Gibbon Mountain on the far right.
|
Working my way through the rock formations as I continue toward Point 5001 on Saddleback Ridge.
|
More rock formations.
|
Point 5001 in the distance on the right... lots of cacti and ocotillo looking for human blood on this scramble.
|
Saddleback Ridge narrows as I get close to Point 5001... Sabino Canyon on the left and Bear Canyon on the right... Gibbon Mountain on the far right.
|
Looking back along Saddleback Ridge to Point 4409 in the center of the photo... the Tucson Mountains on the right horizon.
|
Standing on top of Point 5001... looking at Thimble Peak.
|
Thimble Peak (left) and Gibbon Mountain (right) from Point 5001.
|
Looking down into Sabino Canyon and the Phone Line Trail from Point 5001... Mt. Lemmon is the high point on the ridge on the left.
|
Back on the Phone Line Trail... earlier in the day I gained Saddleback Ridge in the upper right corner of the photo... Thimble Peak on the left... Saddleback Ridge and Point 5001 in the center of the photo.
|
Last look at Sabino Canyon, Thimble Peak and Point 5001 before I round the corner of Blackett's Ridge and head for the car... the scramble was 8.6 miles roundtrip, gaining 2746 feet of elevation.
|
