This is the view south from the parking area at the base of the peak.
A little to the left, also at the parking area at the base. At extreme right at the edge of the frame is the Pima County Jail. Not so much fun, especially in Summer.
Walking up toward the peak, in the midst of all the loose rock, there's this stratified rock that makes up the bulk of the peak. Metamorphic rock, it has to be, given the straight nature of the strata.
One of the smaller peaks to the west, You can't see it from this picture, but these little peaks make the area below into a nice bowl...
Some of the parking area and the houses beyond.
So many of these smaller hills to the southwest. Tucson is ringed by mountain ranges and the gradients are nice to see. That's what made me take this pic.
I'm not at the highest point yet, but I'm looking north to all the little houses up in the direction of Phoenix, way beyond even the farthest peaks.
A lot of people left their tags at the top of the peak. This person carved his.
Coming up to the highest point of Sentinel Peak. I shot a video once I was standing on these rocks because the view down into Tucson is wild.
On the way back down, this is the parking area again. My car is the white one near the center of the pic.
Another shot of the parking lot. Again, my car is upper right of center. Isn't this fun?
...And this is the car. The hub cap for the front tire is actually in the trunk. The set screw that holds it in place was apparently lost long before I got this car.
A look back at the peak. Not much to climb but a bit steep in spots. This was a spur of the moment act, so I wasn't wearing the right shoes for this, which made the climb even more interesting.
San Xavier Del Bac was one of the missions started by Father Kino some 300 years ago. It's been in a constant state of restoration since, while still being used by the Tohono O'odham nation for masses.
Another view. Must be the snowbirds, but there were a lot of people creeping around here, inside and out.
The carvings at the front entrance.
Some detail of the front carvings, like the "in hoc signo vinces" sign.
San Xavier. Not the actual body (though given the Catholic love affair for relics, it'd be a fair guess). The gimmick goes that if your heart is pure, you would be able to pick up the head of the saint effortlessly. The head is on a lever, see, and needs just enough effort to lift successfully. Either that or I'm hell-bound.
Looking toward the altar of the church.
Some detail of the arches and ceiling above the front rows.
The front door fascinated me, with the grainwork exposed by the dryness and the desert sands.
A little garden west of the church. The stations of the cross are embedded in the wall.
Grotto Hill lies east of the parking lot and is a fascinating walk.
Walking up the little road and turning left are these posts with lions on top. There was a little boy wandering the path between the lions, but by the time I got the camera up, he was gone.
At the top of the hill is a white cross. After the walk up Sentinel Peak I was in no mood to hike up any mound of rock.
Again with the lions.
The back of the church complex and the mountains beyond.
A look back at the church from the path around Grotto Hill.
The double spiral pattern of this cactus fascinates me. Fibonacci at work.
The color pattern of the lichens on this rock are more striking in person than this picture implies.
There are a lot of written/spray-painted memorials and tagging around this hill. Behind the hill there are names set in stone...
The actual grotto that gives this hill its name was built in honor of the Lourdes vision back in 1908. People leave memorials here, which I didn't want to photograph because, well, they're not my memorials.
The altar in the grotto is behind a set of bars. This is another view of that altar.
Turning around from the grotto, this is the view. This is looking north.
Another view looking north.
Coming back around the circuit, here is the church again.
The cactuses were interesting. Beyond is the parking area. On this day they were putting in sidewalks, which is actually a good idea, especially during monsoon season. Between the hill and the parking area is a spot where local people sell food items. The frybread is wonderful.
Another angle of San Xavier after coming off Grotto Hill.
Another look at San Xavier form the Grotto Hill side.
South on Wilmot at the Broadway intersection. The contrails looked fascinating against the blue. I am driving at the time, which is not advisable but is typical of what I do...
