Blackett's Ridge- Sabino Canyon- Santa Catalina Mountains

Although unintentional, I seem to be choosing a hike in each of the surrounding mountain ranges. Blackett's Ridge makes 3, now I lack only the Rincons. This was my first "new hike" so far as I'd already done the others before. My mother-in-law hikes it faithfully but I have never been able to get out and do it myself. I considered it comparable to Tumamoc Hill, but I must say now that Tumamoc is not even close. This one kicked my butt pretty good. Blackett's Ridge is a bit longer, but it's the rugged terrain that makes the difference. Having to hoist yourself up large rocks gets your heart pumping more than a steady slope, no matter how steep. The gnats were fairly persistent, but I managed to avoid the very persistent horsefly. One came close, but my odor must have been so foul as to make him avoid me altogether.

I interrupted the basking of a good number of lizards. I could imagine them say in their best Dustin Hoffman accent: "I'm basking here! I'm basking here!" Seeing all the lizards made me reminisce about an area we used to play in behind our house. We called it Lizard Valley, but I'm not sure if that was our name or someone elses. It has now been developed and there are homes built there. You know, good things can't happen when you build homes on an ancient lizard burial ground. I would not be surprised if there have been supernatural events in that neighborhood....

As I got closer to the top, the cliffs got closer and closer. I could hear some kind of bird of prey, but I'm not good enough to recognize what kind it was. But make no mistake, he intended to kill. Great views up top. This canyon also tends to avoid the sun pretty good until the later part of the morning, so you've usually got some nice shade if you get an early start and are off the trail by 10 or so. As the temps rise, the cicadas chime in like an orchestra of reflecting metallic wings.

Total mileage was probably about 4.5 miles, but you definitely have to earn it here. You get a lot of benefit from a short hike here. Next week I'll probably look for something of a gentler kinder variety but longer distance.