Mount Wrightson - Santa Rita Mountains

Mount Wrightson, the highest peak in the Santa Rita Mountains, is primarily composed of thick Lower Jurassic volcanic and sedimentary sequence know as the Mount Wrightson Formation. High on Mount Wrightson and the crest of the Santa Rita Mountains are volcanic rocks created by very vigorous eruptions. These rocks are about 180 million years old.

I started my 10.9 mile round-trip hike at 8:02 AM. From the trailhead it took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the Josephine Saddle. That was 2.5 miles. Then it was 2 miles to the Baldy Saddle. That took 1 hour and 50 minutes. Next was the hike to the 9-456-foot summit. That was 1 mile, and that took me about 1 hour. It was 1:53 PM when I stood on the summit. Then I was back at my car at 3:08 PM. My hike took me 7 hours and 5 minutes. 

 

Mount Wrightson - Santa Rita Mountains

At 6:52 AM, I began my hike up to the 9,456-foot summit of Mount Wrightson. This was my 4th time, and on this hike I was taking the Super Trail up and down. The trail begins at 5,400 feet elevation. It was 8:30 AM, when I reached Josephine Saddle. It had taken me 1 hour and 38 minutes to get there, and it was 3.7 miles from the trailhead. The elevation was 7,103 feet. From here the trail got much steeper, and it took me 91 minutes to reach the Baldy Saddle at 8,768 feet. Baldy Saddle was 2 miles from Josephine Saddle. After a short break, I began hiking again at 10:28 AM. Fifty-one minutes later I was on the summit, and it was 11:19 AM. From Baldy Saddle it was 0.9 miles to the top. At 11:50 AM, I headed back down. I arrived at Josephine Saddle at 1:24 PM, and followed the Super Trail back to my car. I got back to the parking lot at 3:01 PM. It had taken me 97 minutes from Josephine Saddle. My hike was 13.3 miles round-trip, and it took me 8 hours and 9 minutes.