Mt Hopkins

Mt. Hopkins, about an hour south of Tucson, is the second highest peak in the Santa Rita Range of the Coronado National Forest. It tops out at just over 8500 feet and is home to the Smithsonian Institution's Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory. As Chris figured out long ago, where there's a telescope on top of a mountain, there's usually a good bike climb up to it.

Chris has ridden Mt. Hopkins a number of times both this year and last, but I'd never attempted it because only about half the road is paved; the remainder is dirt and gravel. Given the combination of mixed terrain and steepness, we agreed I shouldn't ride it with my road bike. Yesterday Chris had the hair-brain idea that I should rent a mountain bike and ride Mt. Hopkins with him. So I did.

the climb awaits

up I go

so much easier with fat tires and super low gears

dirt or gravel, if it's a road, Chris always rides his regular road bike

I called it a day a few hundred feet from top, just as an 18% grade kicked in
I was happy to let Chris go the last few feet alone
damn that was hard

heading back

it's always easier to smile on the way down

finishing at sunset, our usual m.o.

perfect day

Hot

Winding down our stay in Arizona. Talking with Gary last week it was hard to believe that while here in Tucson another 90+ degree day was in the books, it had just snowed again in Chicago. I've gone into vampire mode, waiting until late afternoon or early evening to venture outside.

Sabino Canyon

Saguaro National Park (eastside)

Mount Graham

Mount Graham International Observatory is located in southeast Arizona's Pinaleno Mountains, about 2 hours from Tucson. Unlike Kitt Peak, the public cannot drive (or ride) all the way to the observatory. This is because the Mount Graham Red Squirrel, which lives only in the Pinaleno Mountains and is considered an endangered critter, makes it home near the observatory (the squirrels were there first, but that's another story...). To protect the squirrel, a gate prevents cars and bikes from completing the last few miles to the top. This, however, does not prevent Arizona Game and Fish Department wildlife managers from accidentally shooting the endangered Red Squirrel, as occurred last month. Amazing, because this tiny squirrel weighs just 8 ounces and measures only 8 inches in length. Hell of a shot. It was reported that the AGFD manager shot the Red Squirrel while he was assisting researchers in moving Abert's squirrels (which compete with the Red Squirrel) from Mt. Graham during a relocation effort. How a gun came into play during the Abert squirrel relocation effort I'm not sure, unless AGFD was ordering the Aberts to march outta there with their paws up.

"Earth First" folks were more than a little pissed at the incident. Below is their depiction of the "bad-ass" Red Squirrel the wildlife manager saved us from:

angry Red Squirrel

We did not see any Red Squirrel, dead or alive, on our ride up Mount Graham. Chris started from the bottom, while I drove about halfway up the mountain to begin my ride. Eventually Chris caught up with me and we rode the final few miles together.

Never one to let something like a gate prevent him from getting where he wants to go, Chris later did a little map research and located an unpaved road near the gated section, which might possibly allow him to reach the top. A few weeks later he returned to test it out. It turned out to be an unmaintained road that was too difficult to ride on a road bike because the dirt was too soft and the bike sunk into the road.

But still, he tried:

ps: Chris INVENTED the 'selfie'

Happy Birthday Dad!

Now that the cat is out of the bag, and by that I mean, the present has been received and unwrapped (though, not baked), I can wish a more public Happy 84th (!) Birthday to Dad!

If it crinkles, she's on it like a fly to honey

Oh, yeah, chocolately goodness