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