Pete Mountain - Santa Rita Mountains

Pete Mountain is a minor summit on a long ridge connecting Mount Hopkins, Agua Caliente Saddle, and Elephant Head. I started the hike by heading up the very steep Vault Mine Trail to the Agua Caliente Trail. At the Agua Caliente Saddle I began following a very faint trail up Pete Mountain. Lots of bushwhacking, and the trail often vanished. It was quite a challenge, and kept my mind off any OCD that I might have had otherwise that day. Summit is 7,661 feet.

Pete Mountain

On the summit of Pete Mountain.

On the summit of Pete Mountain.

Mount Hopkins from the summit of Pete Mountain.

Coming down Pete Mountain.

View from the Agua Caliente Trail.

Mount Wrightson from the Agua Caliente Trail.

Bog Springs Campground - Santa Rita Mountains

The following week I returned to the Santa Rita Mountains to escape the heat of the Valley, and hike up Pete Mountain. I'm really tired of the blazing desert heat. Turns out it was the hottest July on record for Phoenix. I had 3 days off from Walmart, and I desperately needed to get out of town to higher elevation. When I drove up into Madera Canyon my depression rapidly slipped away. I was at peace among the oaks, alligator juniper, and pinyon pine. These sky islands are a biotic wonderland.

Madera Canyon - Santa Rita Mountains

The drive up Medera Canyon is very beautiful as you rise out of the desert grasslands into the sky island of the Santa Rita Mountains. A three mile paved road winds up the lower reaches of the canyon, right beside Madera Creek, ending at a fork in the stream just before the land rises much more steeply. The canyon is also a famed wildlife location, in particular for birds, with over 250 species recorded, while other notable wildlife includes coati, black bear, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, bobcat and ring-tailed cat.

Mount Wrightson

Mount Wrightson

Saguaro National Park West

I spent the afternoon relaxing at the visitor center, and waiting for the late afternoon sunlight to make a good photograph.

Mount Wrightson - Santa Rita Mountains

This was my second time hiking to the summit of Mount Wrightson, elevation 9,456 feet. So this time I was taking the 13 mile figure 8 loop trail. I began by hiking the Super Trail, then connected with Old Baldy Trail, and followed that to the summit. On the return hike, I followed the Super Trail around the southside of the mountain, and connected back to the Old Baldy Trail, and followed that back to my car.

Long hikes with a challenge help tame my OCD, and decrease depression. I focus on the trail, and incredible views, instead of fixating on useless obsessions.

The Super Trail

The Super Trail

The Super Trail

Whipple Observatory on Mount Hopkins

Old Baldy Trail

Old Baldy Trail

Me on the summit.

Madera Canyon from the summit.

On the summit.

Coming down the mountain.

The Super Trail

Mount Wrightson

Bog Springs Campground - Santa Rita Mountains

I camped at Bog Springs Campground in the Santa Rita Mountains for 2 nights. It was so nice to escape the desert heat of Phoenix. The unrelenting days above 110 degrees were making me depressed. I needed the cool mountain air.