Stu Brandel - Dec 30, 2007 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Apr 21, 1995
Beautiful Hike
A wonderful place. The north and east side had a lot of snow, and I saw a large line of turkeys about half way up.
Matt Miller - Sep 30, 2007 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1999
One of my favorites
One of my first hikes in Arizona. It is also one of my favorites. I have summited this peak numerous times from both the Old Baldy trail and coming up Florida Canyon. It is great to hike any time of year.
Climbed this in 1998. Did it several other times...in snow, and in heat! A classic summit in Southern AZ!
ericnoel - Apr 20, 2007 12:25 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2007
Wrightson
Took the Super Trail to Josephine Saddle and then the Old Baldy trail for the rest of the way as well as down. A very pleasant hike and the grade is fairly gentle the whole way. Very expansive views from the summit.
Dennis Poulin - Nov 22, 2006 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Nov 13, 2006
Old Baldy Trail
This is a great hike on a fabulous trail. Lots of switchbacks near the summit. Fantastic views in all directions.
PeakMule - Jul 6, 2006 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2006
Old Baldy Trail
Monsoons started early this year, so the hike from the trailhead to Old Baldy Saddle was hot and steamy. Paused at the saddle to wring out my hat, hankie and shirt, then zig-zagged up the switchbacks to the top and cool breezes. The tremendous view opened up on several thunderstorm cells with the potential to come my way, so I didn't linger. Roundtrip time: 5 hours.
Peakmule,
Are the Wrightson trails open to the summit now? Since I've moved out of Tucson it's harder to keep up with the news. If they are I'll make a note on the page.
Sorry I didn't see your note until now. At the time of my hike, last summer, Old Baldy was the only trail open to Wrightson. The "Florida" fire did a real number on the others, particularly the route from Gardner Canyon.
surgent - Mar 23, 2006 8:27 pm Date Climbed: Apr 24, 2004
Once east, once west
Climbed this big guy in 1998 from the west via Super/Old Baldy trails. Very hot day - over 100 back at TH afterwards, 115+ in deserts. Yikes! Second time went with my wife via Gardner Canyon to the east. Just beautiful. One of AZ's finest overall peaks.
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: December 31, 2005
Made it to the top in 2:40, with my fearless beagle in the lead. Quite windy on the summit, but bearable in a light jacket. Florida Fire damage minimal, with only a short stretch of burned trees between Baldy Saddle and the summit.
I believe I was the only one to summit that day, as I found out upon returning to the trailhead that all trails above Josephine Saddle are closed due to the fire. You would not know this unless you did some trip recon on the web, or read the trail sign located near the restrooms, neither of which I did.
There is one spot just above Josephine Saddle where the trail is washed out, and in several locations fallen trees block the trail, but all is manageable. It's my opinion that the route is easily hikeable, and should be opened soon. Bellows Spring had some water for the beagle.
Route Climbed: Old Baldy trail Date Climbed: 5.28.05
1:53 up, 1:30something down (ran about half of the trail down because of a close lightning strike). Beautiful views, even with the storm clouds brewing all around. Definitely an asset to Tucson residents (or even Phoenix area peeps as well). Very impressive cliffs along the ridge and next to the summit itself.
Route Climbed: Figure 6 Date Climbed: March 26, 2005
We hiked up the Old Baldy Trail, summitted Wrightson and then Ian (a wonderful peak in its own 'right'... I wish my camera hadn't crapped out on me, or I'd have submitted an SP page...). After that, we used the Super Trail to return to Josephine Saddle and we hiked back to the TH back on the Old Baldy Trail. A wonderful hike with a completely different character from our climbs of Wasson and Baboquivari on the previous two days.
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: 3/4/05
Had good pics but I thought some punk in Tuscon stole my camera out of my car when I was mailing off packages!! I got a phone call from the hotel and they had found it. Thank God.
As for the hike itself, it was surprisingly easy. There was ice on the northern switchbacks near the summit but not on the south. I went there to hike the mountain again two days later only to find it covered in snow and being hit by a number of thunderstorms. No trip to Tucson would be complete without this climb.
this is one of my favorite mountains in the tucson area, been up on top with t-storms all around and each one a discrete mass of black clouds and lightning over the sonoita plains, its wonderful.
climbed once barefoot after my barefoot ascent of crough patrick in ireland. had to put shoes on for the return trip. rewarding.
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: May 1999
This was my first real mountain climb. Went with a couple buddies from Arizona. Hiked up to the top and spent the night at the saddle below the summit. Clear day gave us great views from the summit.
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: September 15, 2002
Fresh off my weeklong peakbagging trip in Colorado, this hike was a pleasant and easy change of pace. Raced up the trail and summitted in just over 2 hours. The weather was sunny and clear (even in the afternoon) unlike my hikes in colorado the week prior. It was so nice not to have to run from a storm.
Stu Brandel - Dec 30, 2007 7:27 pm Date Climbed: Apr 21, 1995
Beautiful HikeA wonderful place. The north and east side had a lot of snow, and I saw a large line of turkeys about half way up.
Matt Miller - Sep 30, 2007 4:12 pm Date Climbed: Aug 15, 1999
One of my favoritesOne of my first hikes in Arizona. It is also one of my favorites. I have summited this peak numerous times from both the Old Baldy trail and coming up Florida Canyon. It is great to hike any time of year.
hans.schenk - Sep 26, 2007 10:23 pm
Via Old BaldyClimbed this in 1998. Did it several other times...in snow, and in heat! A classic summit in Southern AZ!
ericnoel - Apr 20, 2007 12:25 am Date Climbed: Apr 19, 2007
WrightsonTook the Super Trail to Josephine Saddle and then the Old Baldy trail for the rest of the way as well as down. A very pleasant hike and the grade is fairly gentle the whole way. Very expansive views from the summit.
Dennis Poulin - Nov 22, 2006 5:40 pm Date Climbed: Nov 13, 2006
Old Baldy TrailThis is a great hike on a fabulous trail. Lots of switchbacks near the summit. Fantastic views in all directions.
PeakMule - Jul 6, 2006 2:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2006
Old Baldy TrailMonsoons started early this year, so the hike from the trailhead to Old Baldy Saddle was hot and steamy. Paused at the saddle to wring out my hat, hankie and shirt, then zig-zagged up the switchbacks to the top and cool breezes. The tremendous view opened up on several thunderstorm cells with the potential to come my way, so I didn't linger. Roundtrip time: 5 hours.
Andinistaloco - Nov 22, 2006 7:20 pm
Re: Old Baldy TrailPeakmule,
Are the Wrightson trails open to the summit now? Since I've moved out of Tucson it's harder to keep up with the news. If they are I'll make a note on the page.
PeakMule - Sep 5, 2007 11:46 am
Re: Old Baldy TrailSorry I didn't see your note until now. At the time of my hike, last summer, Old Baldy was the only trail open to Wrightson. The "Florida" fire did a real number on the others, particularly the route from Gardner Canyon.
surgent - Mar 23, 2006 8:27 pm Date Climbed: Apr 24, 2004
Once east, once westClimbed this big guy in 1998 from the west via Super/Old Baldy trails. Very hot day - over 100 back at TH afterwards, 115+ in deserts. Yikes! Second time went with my wife via Gardner Canyon to the east. Just beautiful. One of AZ's finest overall peaks.
chismsj - Jan 3, 2006 10:07 am
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: December 31, 2005Made it to the top in 2:40, with my fearless beagle in the lead. Quite windy on the summit, but bearable in a light jacket. Florida Fire damage minimal, with only a short stretch of burned trees between Baldy Saddle and the summit.
I believe I was the only one to summit that day, as I found out upon returning to the trailhead that all trails above Josephine Saddle are closed due to the fire. You would not know this unless you did some trip recon on the web, or read the trail sign located near the restrooms, neither of which I did.
There is one spot just above Josephine Saddle where the trail is washed out, and in several locations fallen trees block the trail, but all is manageable. It's my opinion that the route is easily hikeable, and should be opened soon. Bellows Spring had some water for the beagle.
nebben - May 29, 2005 7:04 pm
Route Climbed: Old Baldy trail Date Climbed: 5.28.051:53 up, 1:30something down (ran about half of the trail down because of a close lightning strike). Beautiful views, even with the storm clouds brewing all around. Definitely an asset to Tucson residents (or even Phoenix area peeps as well). Very impressive cliffs along the ridge and next to the summit itself.
Larry V - Apr 3, 2005 8:53 pm
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: Dec 31, 2004Scenic hike. Encountered plenty of ice on the trail where shaded.
RyanS - Mar 27, 2005 2:17 pm
Route Climbed: Figure 6 Date Climbed: March 26, 2005We hiked up the Old Baldy Trail, summitted Wrightson and then Ian (a wonderful peak in its own 'right'... I wish my camera hadn't crapped out on me, or I'd have submitted an SP page...). After that, we used the Super Trail to return to Josephine Saddle and we hiked back to the TH back on the Old Baldy Trail. A wonderful hike with a completely different character from our climbs of Wasson and Baboquivari on the previous two days.
EastKing - Mar 7, 2005 2:01 pm
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: 3/4/05Had good pics but I thought some punk in Tuscon stole my camera out of my car when I was mailing off packages!! I got a phone call from the hotel and they had found it. Thank God.
As for the hike itself, it was surprisingly easy. There was ice on the northern switchbacks near the summit but not on the south. I went there to hike the mountain again two days later only to find it covered in snow and being hit by a number of thunderstorms. No trip to Tucson would be complete without this climb.
mountaindog - Feb 8, 2004 10:49 pm
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: summer 1997Great trail and area. Hotter than hell though.
Felsberg - Dec 20, 2003 9:00 pm
Route Climbed: old baldy Date Climbed: manythis is one of my favorite mountains in the tucson area, been up on top with t-storms all around and each one a discrete mass of black clouds and lightning over the sonoita plains, its wonderful.
climbed once barefoot after my barefoot ascent of crough patrick in ireland. had to put shoes on for the return trip. rewarding.
kdonaldson - Feb 7, 2003 7:45 am
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: May 1999This was my first real mountain climb. Went with a couple buddies from Arizona. Hiked up to the top and spent the night at the saddle below the summit. Clear day gave us great views from the summit.
charles97 - Oct 3, 2002 11:31 am
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Trail Date Climbed: September 15, 2002Fresh off my weeklong peakbagging trip in Colorado, this hike was a pleasant and easy change of pace. Raced up the trail and summitted in just over 2 hours. The weather was sunny and clear (even in the afternoon) unlike my hikes in colorado the week prior. It was so nice not to have to run from a storm.
Josh - Oct 3, 2002 10:55 am
Route Climbed: Old Baldy Date Climbed: August, 2002Hiked up the Old Baldy trail. This is a great way to escape the southern AZ heat. Great views too.