Distance: 4.8 miles round trip on trail and use trail
Summit Elevation: 5364'
Prominence: 861'
Elevation Gain: 2790'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 2.2
Round trip time: 4 hours
Recommended water: 48 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at Linda Vista Trailhead
Difficulty: Moderate
With one day left in Tuscon, I was torn between attempting Pusch Peak (pronounced push) or Ragged Top. I texted my friend Adam Walker, who had climbed both, and he suggested Pusch in the Santa Catalina mountains. It was closer to the hotel, and looked like a solid challenge. I intentionally got a late start at 10 AM to let the sun warm things a bit. The parking lot at the trailhead was full, about 15-20 cars. I had to park in a nearby shopping center in front of a Dunn Edwards paint store. The parking lot was mostly empty so I didn't think anyone would mind. The first part of the trail was maintained and had many hikers. Pusch looked a little scary from the start and I knew it was a going to be a grind. I passed all the hikers where the official trail ended and never saw any of them again.
The use trail was in good shape and I scrambled up on the right side of the main gully. I could tell it aimed for the long ramp high above. I was in shade most of the way. Several varieties of cactus crowded the trail and some had been trimmed. When I reached the turn point from the gully to the ramp, there was a trail split. I followed the most defined trail which was a mistake. I had to cross country through some prickly stuff and down climb rocks to get back on track. This error added about 100' to my gain stat. The rest of the way was solid class 2, nothing tricky and no serious exposure. Still, it was work and I took frequent one minute breaks. The trail curled back to the right at the top of the ramp for an easy walk up finish. There was an official benchmark on top and a small box with two full registers. Pusch was very popular, though I was alone on the summit. I took photos and walked up a formation just below the summit for better views of Tuscon. Truly beautiful. I was able to spot Wasson Peak to the south. On the way down, I met a couple from Minnesota who said they come to Arizona every winter to escape the cold. They looked fit and I'm sure had no trouble reaching the top. The rest of the descent was uneventful. I stopped to admire some healthy saguaros near the bottom and got some parting shots. Highly recommended if you find yourself in Tuscon and have half a day to kill.
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