Picacho Peak hike

Today was a fine day to hike up Picacho Peak.  Or at least try.  It is a steep trail which was OK until we hit the saddle between the two peaks.  Then it goes down steeply along a narrow rock ledge with a cable on the side.  After some contemplation we decided to give it a go.  We got down a little ways but it was rough and we had second thoughts.  We came back up and talked with 4 young men who were waiting for us; it's not a two way trail.  They said it gets worse farther on, one said he was "scared shitless" the first time he went on it.

We came back to camp, had lunch and did a little camper maintenance or reading.  While I was changing a light switch it broke so I had to go wandering around the area looking for a hardware store.  It made for some nice sightseeing as I wandered about the countryside following my GPS.  First we went to a store that didn't exist.  Normally I'd be irritated at this but it was such a nice drive that I didn't care.  Ended up in Casa Grande about 22 miles from camp.  It impressed me once again how these western cities have such an abrupt change from farmland to urban setting.

Yesterday I mentioned the Yuma Prison Library.  That was when I noticed a big coincidence.  I was reading another Archer Mayer detective mystery, he is a Vermont author I have come to like a lot.  Anyway, I had bought that book on E-Bay and noticed it was stamped as surplus from the Yuma Public Library.

Picacho Peak is the high point in the center.  The peak off to the left is separate.  The saddle we reached is the low point on the right

Picacho on left, saddle on right

Nameless little peak 

That same nameless peak

This little guy was on the saddle waiting for handouts

Looking down the back side

Panorama from the saddle

A train I encountered on my way to get a switch