Wasson Peak was my third summit of the AZ Winter Challenge, and after completing Freemont Saddle (after heavy rainfall), Piestewa Peak (at sunset), and the AZ Summer Challenge in Flagstaff's beautiful forests and Sedona's red rock and fall foliage, this hike, in my opinion, was a bit lackluster in comparison. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the beauty of awesomely vast desert scapes and abundant varieties of cacti (especially the blanket of saguaros)! I base this opinion simply because I live in the desert (Phoenix) and I itch for the green from time to time. Blame it on my Midwestern roots, a landscape of rolling grassy hills and leafy trees.
Finding the actual summit was a bit of a challenge, as it's not truly visible until you're approximately 1 to 1.5 miles from the peak. We (along with other hikers) were surprised to repeatedly find the trail continued on around each bend. The switchbacks keep you guessing! Just when we thought we were about there, we found that we had a good clip to go. Obviously, having the AllTrails app mapping our journey was a nice guide for checking our distance and ensuring we were on the right path. The trail itself was very easy to follow – not much option to lose your way.
The trail was covered with broken shards of rock and was really taxing on our feet. It actually got a bit painful on the old soles by the end of the journey. I wear trail hiking shoes, which have been a constant comfort on all of my summits, but perhaps a thick-soled hiking boot would be better for this particular climb. The cacti and steep drop-offs were extremely close to the trail on the main ascent of the climb, so slipping was not an option!
It was a beautifully sunny day, starting with temps around 40° (at 8 a.m.) and reaching 70°. There were some gusts of wind, especially at the top, but for the most part, it was welcome, as the Arizona sun in a clear sky can be a bit intense, even at a mild 70°. At the summit it became crystal clear that Wasson Peak is the tallest mountain in Tucson – the views went on for miles!
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