Febuary 24, 2023 hike: Finger Rock Canyon to Mt Kimball peak.
As usual, a tough but satisfying hike with spectacular scenery. The weather was close to perfect for hiking: highs in the mid-60s (at the bottom) and sunshine. There was some wind in the upper third, but I put on a light long-sleeve fleece sweatshirt and I was comfortable. The snow at the top was a bit annoying, as it was melting and made the upper trail a bit wet, but again this was a minor inconvenience. And, the snow made for a glistening scene on the peak of Mt Kimball and especially looking out at Mt Lemmon in the distance.
As noted in other comments for this hike, the hike is short but steep: 10 miles, but with over 4,200 feet of elevation gain. There are also a fair number of rock piles, which are not too hard to traverse but add to the effort of the hike. This all makes for a great workout, but also for tired and maybe sore joints and muscles for hikers who aren't used to this combination. The views make it very worthwhile!
Photo 1 provides a nice view up the canyon from near the start of the trail. You can see the many saguaros and other desert plants in the lower elevations and the Arizona oaks, pines and other upland plants in the higher parts of the canyon.
Photo 2 looks up at the magnificent cliff and spires that give the canyon its name, "Finger Rock". Finger Rock itself is the small pinnacle just to the left of the center of the photo. These rock structures are instantly recognizable from much of Tucson as they dominate the mid-western end of the Catalinas, which tower over the city on its north side.
Photo 3 was taken from the near the top of Mt Kimball. It looks 47 miles south at Mt Wrightson, the tallest mountain in the vicinity of Tucson at nearly 9,500 feet. These very tall mountains are often snow-capped in the winter, even though Tucson temperatures rarely dip below freezing.
Photo 4 shows the snowy scene on the top of Mt Kimball, altitude 7,258 feet. It actually felt fairly warm thanks to the strong sun, making for a nice lunch spot.
Photo 5 is another shot taken from the top of Mt Kimball, looking northeast across the high Catalinas. The highest snow-capped mountain to the left of the center of the photo is Mt Lemmon, the highest mountain in the Catalinas at 9,171 feet. There is a small ski hill at the top of Mt Lemmon that is the southernmost ski hill in the US. It has been running since early January, this season.
Photo 6 looks at the massive rock at the northeast corner of Finger Rock canyon. The photo was taken coming down the eastern flank of Mt Kimball, looking southeast.
Photo 7 shows how steep the canyon is. This is about three miles from the trailhead and city and yet, 3,000 feet higher. You meet very few people up there, but you are so close to the amenities of Tucson. Tusconans are so lucky to have such a beautiful spot so close! And, the afternoon sun was wonderfully warm. I was only wearing light running gear at this point.
A last look at the vast saguaro stands at the bottom of the canyon. A great end of a great hike!.
This was a wonderful day to enjoy the sun, mountains, desert and snow and a great workout.
Hike stats: 10.0 miles with 4,265 feet of elevation gain to a peak of 7,258 feet in 7 hours 2 minutes (5 hours 13 minutes excluding time for lunch and taking 171 photos and videos).
