With many of Arizona's parks under the threat of being shut down due to budget cuts, we (with two buddies) decided to hit up Picacho Peak (Picacho meaning "big peak" in Spanish...) before it's closure date.

I'm glad we went!  I think we've discovered one of our favorite hikes on Big Peak Peak!

Apparently it's near the site of one of the few civil war battle engagements. A Union cavalry patrol from California skirmished with Confederate scouts from Texas, and three men were killed.

Right before the hike / climb / run.

Winning one of his many battles that day...

A different kind of view...

The view from the first spot we took a water break at.

We veered off the path a few times, thought we saw a cave a little ways up and decided to make the climb.

The "cave" only went in about 2 feet and contained a puddle. That was about it.

So down we go.

Some random guy's butt.

There is a significant portion of this trip that I deemed a little too steep for picture taking so unfortunately a lot of the cooler, practically 90 degree angled climbs are not photographed. And anyway, most of these climbs I was sweating and panting and feeling the burn in my legs.... not the prettiest of pictures.

Climbing up the cables.

Pooped out and resting at the summit.

The four of us cheesing and posing at the top:

We explored those other peaks as well

On our way back. This was Tracy's first real hike. See the big grin? Apparently he had a good time.

That is the point I put away my camera for the rest of the day because going down was a bit scary w/ the loose rocks and dirt under our feet. I didn't want to fall flat on my face and flatten it even more than it already is (inside Filipino joke).

We're planning on going back again before the park gets shut down, armed w/ gloves. The rocks and cables were killer on our hands and actually... I may need another tetanus shot as I spliced a bit of my palm on one of the rusted cut cables. That is, if I don't lose the hand...