Tucson Mts - Vertical Cliffs: Beginner Friendly

Arrive at the carpooling site in time for an 8:30 DEPARTURE

RSVPs open November 2, 2017 Thursday 7:00am

Total Distance: 4.3 mi lasso

*Rated "D" Beginner El gain Approx 300'

RESTRICTIONS: No dogs, firearms or tobacco

Duration: 3-4 hours (+-)

Bring: water, food for a snacks/lunch, sun protection, hiking poles if needed.

The trail head is tricky to find and there is limited parking so we will car pool to the site from the Wells Fargo Bank (https://maps.google.com/maps?q=2150%20West%20Grant%20Road%2C%20Tucson%2C%20AZ) at Grant and Silverbell.

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The Hike:

These trails are in the far northeast corner of the Tucson Mt District of Saguaro National Park.

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This hike starts out with a steep rocky descent of about 300' to the Animal Wash Trail. This wash (arroyo) walk is about 1 mile. We will see some really big Saguaros on this section as well as dense Palo Verde and Mesquite. You will get what I consider a rare chance to see moss covered rocks on the north side of the wash. Real moss, not Spike Moss.

When we exit the wash we will walk several hundred feet up a gas pipeline to the Vertical Cliffs Trail (VCT). From this trail section we will have sweeping views of a gorgeous chunk of Sonoran desert along with commanding views of the major peaks in the Tucson Mountain Range: Panther, Sombrero (Safford Peak) and Wasson Peaks. To the east the Catalina Mountains will be laid out before us.

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As we hike west along the VCT, the trail's name sake will come into view, a low red rock cliff reminiscent of the Great Wall in the Tortolita Mts.

We will leave the VCT for a short walk up the Veteran's trail to get a better look at the cliff face. Here we will make a snack/lunch stop.

We will then walk the remaining segment of the VCT to the Abington Trail. This section has many more fine Saguaro and Barrel cacti.

When we approach the intersection of the VCT and Abington trails we will see a very nice open wash as well as a wind mill used for pumping water into a wildlife tank on the opposite side of the wash. We are now within spittin' distance of the Gila Monster Mine Trail.

We will then head east onto the Abington trail and back to our starting point.

If you are new to the group please read these:

About the Tucson Hiking Meetup Group (https://www.meetup.com/tucsonhiking/about/)
Tucson Hiking Meetup Group - No Show Policy (http://files.meetup.com/372195/No%20Show%20Policy.pdf)
Hike Rating Scale (http://files.meetup.com/372195/Hike%20Rating%20Scale.pdf)

Hike at your own risk.

If you have questions email me or call me at 304.290.8066 (NO TEXTING)

WV-Mike