For the hike on the first Friday in June, I hiked a 9.7 mile loop starting from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. I hiked the Marcus Landslide Trail to the edge of McDowell Mountain Regional Park and then crossed the park boundary, hiking Boulder, Pemberton, Coachwhip, and Windmill, at which point I reentered the Preserve. I finished the hike by going up East End, down Tom’s Thumb, with a short diversion at the end on Feldspar and Mesquite Canyon.
Views from the Marcus Landslide Trail…
I think I’m on Pemberton at this point; that’s Red Mountain in the background.
Views from the Windmill Trail…
You can barely see the (remains of the) windmill in this photo. It’s just left of (and partially obscured by) the saguaro that’s a third of the way from left edge of the photo.
Thompson Peak is the one with the antennae on top.
Starting up East End…
I’m a good ways down Tom’s Thumb Trail now. Gardener’s Wall is on the left, Tom’s Thumb is on the right.
A view of Mesquite Canyon (and one of the Sven Towers) from the Feldspar Trail. The climbing on the Sven Towers is on the other side. The approach starts from this side; once at the top, the climbers will rappel down the route and then climb back up.
I saw this lizard as I neared the trailhead. I saw many other lizards that day too, but none were as colorful as this one.
Susan Davis says:
Great pics, as usual–but the lizard takes the prize!
June 12, 2019 — 8:15 pm
Gary Wietgrefe says:
I agree with Susan the lizard is good, but I want to compliment you on revealing the mountain face (photo 2, upper right center just below peak). Great job!
June 13, 2019 — 7:20 am
Linda says:
You always find more ways to photograph a route we have taken often! Great photos…….I had to scroll back to see that Mountain face……it is great….will have to look for that when out there! And the lizard was a beauty!
June 13, 2019 — 3:34 pm
jon lverenz says:
Lizard great but all are great. How hot was it?
June 15, 2019 — 12:25 pm
Kevin says:
As I recall, it started fairly cool (70s maybe), but warmed up to mid to high nineties later on. It was warm enough that I stopped a few times while hiking up the East End. I’m not as well acclimated this year as I was last.
June 16, 2019 — 12:30 pm