Distance: 7.9 miles round trip on trail
Summit Elevation: 4690' (Wasson), 4425' (Amole)
Prominence: 2123' (Wasson)
Elevation Gain: 2092'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 1.6
Round trip time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Recommended water: 32 oz.
Parking/Fees: $25 National Parks Fee or Annual Pass
Difficulty: Moderate
Wasson Peak is the high point in the Tuscon Mountains. It is also in Saguaro National Park, so it requires a $25 fee to hike, though the fee is good for one car for a week. I had an Annual Pass, but didn't think to bring it on this trip as the +1 for Leisa's conference. I started at the King Canyon Trailhead at 8:45 AM, and the parking lot only had a few cars. There was a stand with a register at the beginning of the trail. The trail was wide and in great shape. There were a lot of connecting trails and most people make a loop out of this hike. I started at a brisk pace and have never seen so many saguaros. Quite beautiful. The temp was cool, 45F, but I warmed somewhat after the first mile. After a couple miles of easy hiking, I hit a saddle and the trail got steeper. I was not able to see Wasson until I was a mile away. I kept my pace and made the summit in a single push. On the final ridge, the wind blasted me at 20-25mph and I got cold again. The summit had a reference mark, but the benchmark had been removed. A metal stand held a register. book. I was the fourth person to summit on this random Monday, with many other hikers on their way. 360 views were great. I stayed on top only long enough to mark a waypoint and send a text to my wife. I took my first break after descending enough to get out of the wind. I took the Hugh Norris trail down, including a short diversion to tag Amole Peak with little prominence. There was a boulder pile on top, but I didn't find a register or make much effort to look for one. Continuing down, I connected to the Sendero Esperanza trail, then completed the loop on the Gould Mine trail. A fine desert hike. Due to the cold, I drank less water than expected. Upon return, the parking lot was full and cars were stalking people who were leaving. Weird on a Monday.
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