On Friday, March 13, Linda and I enjoyed bicycling up and down Kitt Peak east of Tucson. We had been bicycling several days in Tucson and thought we were ready for a more ambitious ride. It was a fun and memorable ride.
We parked my Jeep near the start of Arizona Highway 386 and its junction with AZ Hwy 86. The climb started gently, but soon steepened. Overall, the grade averaged about 7% for the 12 miles to the summit area. On our climb the traffic was light and there was an adequate shoulder. The climb was strenuous, but enjoyable.
We rode our bikes around the Mayall Telescope. Linda started down and I began scouting how to tag the summit when a security guard drove up and told me to leave. Apparently the short road off Highway 386 to the Mayall Telescope is now open to “authorized vehicles” only. My bicycle and I were not authorized.
We visited the Visitor Center before enjoying the descent back to my jeep. There was a Border Patrol checkpoint on the highway on our drive home, but they let us pass without comment.
