Trip Report/Photos from JDNnh
This mountain was rated 2 black diamonds - very strenuous by the local trail club, so I couldn't resist taking a look. The trailhead was in the middle of no where but only 20 minutes north of Scottsdale. I got there at 10am and it was already 80 degrees so I made fast tracks upwards past the cactus gardens.
An hour later I reached the East/West Trail junction. From there I began a bushwack looking for an old abandoned miners cave. The trail was fading away when I looked up and saw some sand-bags at the cave entrance. Yahoo - I had found it so I went inside. A picnic table, hurricane lamp, cans of food, mining tools and bed are all still there and in good shape. I looked around for some gold nuggets but alas found none so I left and headed back to the main trail.
Back at the junction I hiked along a ridge for 20 minutes till I got to Tom's Thumb. The sky was deep blue and a soft warm breeze was blowing.
The Thumb is just shy of 4000 feet with great views to the valley floor.
I had read about an Ogre Cave located behind the Thumb so off I went to find it. It was a scramble down some boulders and I was mindful of the handholds due to rattlesnakes and scorpians. I did find this second cave and it's secret stash of trinkets other hikers have left there.
This mountain had a rugged feel, great views and fun secrets caves to locate - highly recommended!
As it was now 95 degrees, I high-tailed it back to Scottsdale to meet Mike at the hotel pool for a 4pm cocktail and refreshing swim.
