Tucson to Redington Pass: off to get reacquainted with the desert


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Statistics for today
Distance 37.60 kms 23.61 miles
Climbed 593 meters 1,946 feet
Ride time (hours) 3.76 -
Avg speed 15 kph -
Statistics for trip to date
Distance 37.60 kms 23.61 miles
Climbed 593 meters 1,946 feet
Ride time (hours) 3.76 -
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Monday, April 22nd, 2019

A free week in Tucson, what better time to take off to the backcountry desert for a litte exploration. I've had my eye on the San Carlos Apache Reservation for a few years now but haven't yet had the opportunity to get up there. The weather looks favorable -- nothing severe in the forecast and not too hot -- and the wetter than usual winter will probably have left enough water around to support a deep dive into the uninhabited expanse of the reservation.

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This is my desert touring bike that I left in storage in Tucson for a year. The tubes fell apart over that time but it is otherwise unscathed. Heavily loaded for this trip with all the camping gear plus a good bit of food and water. I decided to add a bottle cage on the bottom for the campstove fuel bottle. I like it; it's better than putting it in a panier where it could stink up everything else in there.

I had plans on an early start (and to go over Mount Lemmon), but after I was through fiddling with my gear and having breakfast I didn't get on the road until after noon. That changes my ideas about Mount Lemmon. I'm not sure how long it would take to climb with a fully-loaded bicycle but it surely wouldn't be quick; and I wouldn't want to get stuck camping off of the paved road. So I opt for Redington Pass instead. The pass is just the continuation of Tanque Verde road heading over a lowish section of the Catalina Mountains into the San Pedro River valley. I'm familiar with that valley from a previous trip.

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Yessssss
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On Redington Pass looking south.
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Looking back at Tucson to the west.

When the pavement stops and I'm climbing up the steep, dirt switchbacks of Redington Pass I'm glad that I opted for this route rather than Mount Lemmon. Although I've been cycling every day I haven't been pushing a 75lb bicycle around. There is a difference. My knees feel a bit creaky. I decide to stop to camp at the top of the pass; a short day should give my body more time to acclimate to the effort needed to drag this mastadon up the hills.

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Only in America. People come up to the national forest to shoot stuff. That thing must be a heavy caliber because when he shot the sound reverbated quite loudly around the mountains.
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Looking down on the road from my campsite on a hill.
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The desert looks amazing after the wet winter. Bright wildflowers abound.
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I find a good spot of flattish ground on the top of a hill above the road. I'm overlooking Tucson but hidden from view from the road. I set up and relax for a while, enjoying the sights. Dinner comes out excellent as it usually does on the first day -- everything is still fresh.

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Nice view from inside the tent. I'll be putting the fly up tonight in case any more rainshowers come through.
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A rainshower hits Tucson. It's heading northeast and fortunately missed me.
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I though I would have a direct view of the sunset from here but I slightly miscalculated. Not a bad view all the same.

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