Arizona 2014, Day 5: Tom's Thumb, 11.9 miles hiked

Great view of Four Peaks from Tom's Thumb Trail.

On Thursday, Greg recommended a hike to Tom’s Thub in the City of Scottsdale McDowell Sonoran Preserve just north of Phoenix. He told me it was just enough outside of the city that on a weekday, I should have relative solitude among the cacti. And it wasn’t more than a 45-minute drive from his Tempe apartment. Eager to get to the trail while the morning light was still decent, I got going before 9am.

I reached the “Tom’s Thumb” trailhead around 9:30am, applied some sunscreen, and headed out. Greg was right. The only sounds were occasional birds chirping, and I was surrounded by hills and mountains. To the east, the famous Four Peaks loomed. Distant mountains were visible to the north. And to the south, the trail winded up, down and around large rock piles. I was excited to get going.

As I began walking, I immediately noticed prickly cacti on both sides of the trail. I reminded myself not to stray. A bad step or two could result in a stinging sensation. After climbing switchbacks, I came to flat spot and the trail turned a hard right toward The Thumb, which was very aptly named. Minutes later, I arrived at the trail’s namesake and stared up at it. Seriously — it resembled a (large) thumb. I sat down on a flat rock and admired the view to the north below me.

I had completed the hike Greg recommended, but I wanted more. In looking at the map I had picked up at the trailhead, I had plenty of options. I had thought about seeing a movie during the afternoon, but the itch proved irrisistible. I needed to hike more.

I left The Thumb and hiked 0.5 miles to The Lookout, a perch at 3,858 feet that offered impressive views of Thompson Peak (3,969 feet) and its tower to the south. (Apparently, you can drive up Thompson — yuck!) To my left and right, almost as large cacti-strewn peaks were also beautiful to look at.

I had another decision to make. I could add 6.2 miles to my hike — no short walk — and make it a large loop. Or I could turn around, hiking the 2.7 miles back to the car, and go see a movie before picking Greg up. I debated this for a good two miles, but you know what won out. I took a left to continue on the Tom’s Thumb Trail and immediately began descending.

I kept going down, and down, for what seemed like forever. I know why — I kept thinking about the destination. With this being the first of three legs to get back to the trail I had started on, I was a bit apprehensive hiking in this new territory. And I knew I would have plenty of ascending to do. With not that much water left in my Camelback. Of course, I would be fine. I still took time to admire the looming mountains that now towered above me, their shoulders scattered with saguaro cacti. I passed just two guys on this 2.6-mile portion of trail.

Finally I reached the Windgate Pass Trail, feeling like I was about 10 miles from the car. I swung a left, and the going immediately leveled as I hiked between the peaks on my left and right. I had the desert landscape to myself, and I allowed my pace to slow as I relaxed a bit and took in the scenery. I quickly reached Windgate Pass (3,031 feet), from which I had outstanding views in all directions. From there, it was a short 0.9-mile descent to the East End Trail.

I knew I had some climbing to do. A lot of climbing.

The initial 1,000-plus-foot ascent to Tom’s Thumb in the morning had seemed easy. It was gradual, and my legs were fresh. This wasn’t the case during the 1.4-mile climb up the East End Trail to the junction with the Tom’s Thumb path. It was steep, much of it spent on loose gravel and dirt, and my legs burned. I also was modest with my water consumption, as my Camelback was in its final liter.

Of course, I loved this. Knowing that I wasn’t far from the end of my hike, I relished the challenge. I passed the same guys I had seen during my ascent, then I walked by a shirtless man with two water bottles who looked to be in his 70s. Trail running — what a great way to stay in shape in an inspiring place. That would be a huge benefit of living out here.

After what seemed like endless switchbacks, I reached the trail junction and celebrated. I had conquered the loop. I lessened my pace a bit and enjoyed the return hike to Greg’s Mountaineer, which I reached about five hours after beginning what became an 11.9-mile hike.

I knew it might be my last adventure of this Arizona trip. If so, it certainly qualified as great finisher!