Friday Fitness Hike

Last Friday’s hike started from the Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. We hiked a route that took us up to the East End, the highest point in the McDowells. When we finished, Bill and I hiked into the Rock Knob Trail into McDowell Mountain Park.

The trail crosses some large boulders. This was a difficult spot for Linda.

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Frank scrambles up a steep section to take a look at the views.

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Frank, Allen, Bill, and Janet hike ahead of me. Bob and Linda are even further ahead!

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This is a view of the Thumbnail Pinnacle. Bill told me that some people call it Lizard Rock.

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A view of Thompson Peak and another, closer, peak.

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Yet another view of the Thumbnail Pinnacle. It looks very different from this vantage point.

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Janet and Allen on their way to the upper ridge that will lead us over to the East End.

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Allen poses on a large boulder along the way.

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The Thumbnail was out of sight for a while after we gained the ridge. But I noticed that it was momentarily visible again as we made our way towards the East End.

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Frank gets a good view from a boulder at the crest of the ridge.

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I think this is the most difficult part of the hike. A short but loose descent leads down to a good trail.

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A view from the East End:

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Bill, Janet, Frank, and Allen at the summit. Frank is signing the summit log.

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Another view of the summit. The fountain (in Fountain Hills) can be seen behind the rocky ridge that we had to hike to get over to the summit.

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Another view in the same direction. I was off of the summit at this point and took a few more photos prior to descending to the Tom’s Thumb Trail.

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A view of Gardener’s Wall, Tom’s Thumb, Troon Mountain, and Pinnacle Peak:

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Descending from the East End:

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A view of Glass Dome and Tom’s Thumb:

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Bob, Frank, Bill, Janet, and Allen hike the trail which goes past Gardener’s Wall.

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Another view from the Gardener’s Wall Access Trail:

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