If you're ever in Tucson AZ or are planning a visit, be sure to check out the hiking trails, they're scattered all over the valley and mountains surrounding the city.  My hikes center around the (Santa) Catalina mountains, located just north of town.  For a quick workout, and a great view, take the Pontatoc ridge trail located at the north end of Alvernon way, at the base of the Catalinas.  This is the Finger Rock trailhead, complete with a paved parking lot and water fountain.

The Pontatoc ridge trail is about 2.6 miles one way.  Elevation gain is about 2000 feet to the very top, not at the saddle where most people stop. 

Believe it or not, there was mining near the top a long time ago, be sure and check out the tunnels near the saddle. 

Most shots were taken with the SP-550 UZ on my hike of 4/21/07, but I threw in a few shots of items I missed on this day; with a different camera. 

Follow along as I take a grueling 2 hour hike-round trip-up a steep ridge, all within hollering distance to upscale neighborhoods.

The Finger Rock trailhead starts at 3100 feet.

Enjoy the two page 29 picture tour.

This is the actual Finger rock trailhead which starts out going right by someones house.  Notice to the right the entryway for a fancy housing development.

This is one of many signs warning you about the deleterious effects of hiking.  Danger, burned areas!  Danger, cryptosporidium!  Danger, skin cancer!  Danger, rattlesnakes!  Danger, dehydration!  And the list goes on and on.  Notice our short little hike is the lower one in the center.

We'll be taking the #410, the #42 goes about 5 miles to a pine forest peak in a more northerly direction.  We stay on the #410 for about .8 miles, then jump off to another trail number.

This is why they call it "Finger Rock trail," note the rock formation looks like a giant finger or number one sign.  It's around 100 feet high and visible from town.  Hand held 504mm shot, yes it's a little blurry.

Our destination is the cloud shaded peak to the left center.  It doesn't look so steep in the picture but wait 'till we get near the top.

This is the view before the trail split.  You go through three washes before you start climbing out and up.  You'll climb about half way up this ridgeline, where you'll take the #411, then head south or right in the picture.  You eventually will be on top of the ridge walking to the left.

Here's the view as you walk from half way up along the ridgeline, nearly to the turn from south to northeast.  Downtown Tucson is in the upper right, by mountains.

Notice the hikers standing to the lower center, they're at the first viewpoint sight, the most southern point of our hike.  The real climbing begins right after this feature.  We started off the hike at the top center, just beyond the white house.

Before you are the mighty Saguaro cacti.  These desert giants typically grow their first arms around the 65-75 year mark.  Average life spans are 150 to 175 years old, but can be much older.  The specimens above are probably well over 100 years old.  Notice the steep grade in the background, which is about the same as the trail at this point.  The picture above is available in a larger or much larger version, in the picture gallery or sample shot page of the SP-550 UZ.