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Update – Construction of Permanent Tom’s Thumb Trailhead

Original Post
ErikF · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 71

The City of Scottsdale is beginning construction of the permanent Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. The permanent Tom’s Thumb Trail Head will be located southeast of the intersection of 128th Street and the Preserve boundary, and will be accessed via 128th Street. From now on the preferred access from the intersection of Pima and Happy Valley Road will be to take Happy Valley east to where it turns north and becomes 118th street. Turn east on Ranch Gate Road then south on 128th street. This route has been improved to the boundary of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The old access route through Troon will be gated and closed to public traffic prior to completion of the new Trailhead.

You will see increasing construction activity through out the winter climbing season. During the construction process, continue southbound on 128th Street to the T-intersection with El Paraiso and turn left/east and follow signage to the current Temporary parking areas near Sven Slab and underneath Morrell’s Wall. The City is willing to allow temporary access to the trail systems in the area as long as the hiker/biker/climber/horse rider activity does not interfere with Construction. Please respect this effort by the City to attempt to avoid closure during the entire construction process, which will continue through early summer of 2012. Inevitably there could be some short term closures due to construction needs, so please follow any official signage. We will also attempt to get the word out when we know sufficient information.

The Preserve is owned by the City of Scottsdale and its primary purpose is to keep the natural habitat and geology in its native state. All usage is governed by the City of Scottsdale code and will be enforced. Once in the Preserve, please remember to follow all of the City of Scottsdale rules and regulations for the Preserve as indicated on the signage. These rules include no camping or overnight stays, opening at sunrise and closing at sunset, etc. Stay on the designated main trails, and only access crags on the official climber trails, most of which are marked by signage along the Tom’s Thumb Trail. Under no circumstances use the old access to Tom’s Thumb that enters near the house SE of 128th and El Paraiso. (This signage was obtained by a grant the AMC received from the Access Fund and was installed by AMC and local climbers.)

Please remember that the City has been very good to climbers and is allowing us to continue to climb on all of the historic crags (albeit with new access). Your behavior can ensure that climbing can continue. Please respect the partnership we have formed with the City.

If you have any questions, please direct them to Erik Filsinger, Climber Liaison to City Staff, at smorefil@aol.com or Scott Hamilton, Preserve Planner, at shamilton@scottsdaleaz.gov.

Thank you.

ClimbPHX.com · · Mesa AZ · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 1,135

As long as Manny and I dont have to lug concrete and steel up to Tom Thumb again ... Im enthusiastic about this :)
Shows that this is a permanent solution and access is almost permanently ensured... until more Millionaires NEED houses in the desert right?

MacM · · Tucson/Preskitt, AZ · Joined Feb 2010 · Points: 675

Alright, I'm not at all one to start some sort of argument on MP and I really don't intend to. I just see these "Permanent Solutions" having a good and bad side. Good side is as stated above.."Shows that this is a permanent solution and access is almost permanently ensured... " I completely agree with this. I also completely agree with the fact, that has been stated before, that the new trails, and this new trailhead, being built will also ensure that the land will be well preserved and keep on flourishing by keeping everyone to a single path.

However, I do see these prominent trails having a problem. Since the new trails have been established I have seen more and more people go to the McDowell's Vs. Pinnacle Peak to do their "hiking". Now by no means am I saying "The McDowell's should be for Climber's and Hiker's use only" , I am genuinely concerned with the over-flow of people that will now be using the trails in the McDowell's. I really don't want to see The McDowell's turn into Pinnacle Peak, with all of the parking issues, theft, MASS amount of people, and of course those annoying rangers that "try to help you". (I'm biased on the last part because I got a trespassing ticket on PP for staying after sunset, it was my fault - but still..)

Am I over-reacting to this situation? I realize there is a much bigger picture along the lines of Access that are beyond these few qualms I am having about this I just don't want the McDowell's to lose it's "Peace" along with other qualities that it contains. Like the feeling of escaping the city, when it is only 25 mins away...

There will always be compromises between Access and Freedom, I just hope all the compromises were worth it.

I want to hear others input on this, please chime in and tell me I'm wrong.
(That's almost what I am hoping for, Haha)

Climb On!

-Mac

ErikF · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 71

Thanks, Shiloh and Mac.

Basic facts are that the Citizens of Scottsdale voted to allow sales tax dollars to be raised and used for the purchase of the land so that housing and commercial development don't occur and that the Preserve will be kept in perpetuity. The City has studied and will continue to monitor the appropriate level of activity and has City code to set the guidelines and a professional staff to carry them out.

Most climbers would just as soon it would stay as their playground, but it won't. Maybe that's unfortunate, but over the past 20 years climbers have worked with the City to try to make the best of it they can, given the priorities of the Preserve and the rightful demands of other users who paid for it.

The Tom's Thumb Trail Head is the only major trail head on the north side of the McDowells and will serve the residents of Scottsdale and visitors. It will be on the scale of the Lost Dog Wash trail head on the south end. Again, perhaps others might have wished for something else, but this is what the decision was.

Enjoy it, and take good care of what we've obtained.

Erik

lloyd · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2011 · Points: 95

Same message as always.

You're lucky to have anything at all.
Thanks for your input, it has been dismissed.
You are free to go, we'll call if we need strong backs and weak minds.

Peter Franzen · · Phoenix, AZ · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 3,730

Wait, you can't even be out there after sunset? So much for the evening photography outings that I had planned...

ClimbPHX.com · · Mesa AZ · Joined Jan 2006 · Points: 1,135

In view of the way that the urban sprawl has begun encroaching on the McDowells over the course of the last 7 years, I think this is a positive sign that access will not follow the way of Troon Mt.
I don't know how this can be viewed as negative, since there is PLENTY of climbing that doesn't intersect the hiking and biking areas of the park.

ErikF · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 71
Change in Parking – Tom’s Thumb Trail Head

City of Scottsdale staff for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve have asked me to let climbers know that the transition to the new parking lot will occur this Wednesday, June 20, 2012. Starting Wednesday, all members of the public will be required to enter the new Tom’s Thumb Trail Head via 128th Street. All of the former access points will be closed.

This new parking lot will serve the climbing on the eastern slope of the McDowells (e.g., Granite Ballroom and Rosetta Stone), the greater Sven Slab area (Sven Slab, Sven Towers I, II, and III), Hog Heaven via Mesquite Canyon, the greater Morrell’s Wall climbing (Morrell’s Parking Lot, Morrell’s Wall), Gardeners Wall, Glass Dome, Goat Hill, Tom’s Thumb, the Rist, Lost in the Air, Lost Wall, Half and Half, and Fort McDowell. It also will serve as gateway to the McDowell Regional Park and Rock Knob. If anyone wishes to have updated route information please contact me.

The main entrance point to the Tom’s Thumb Trail Head is south of the intersection of Ranch Gate Road and 128th Street. Most climbers coming from the south and west will take advantage of coming east on Happy Valley from Pima. Continue on Happy Valley easterly past 104th Street/Alma School and go through the Troon development. Happy Valley curves north on the east side of Troon Mtn and becomes 118th Street. Follow 118th Street a short distance and look for the brown signage to the Trail Head. You take a right/east off of 118th Street on to Ranch Gate Road, which then arrives shortly at 128th Street. This short cut saves maybe 15 minutes drive time up to Dynamite and across.

If you have any questions or if you would like any updated trail access and climbing route information, please contact me – smorefil (at) aol (dot) com.

Erik Filsinger
ErikF · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 71

Greetings from beautiful Scottsdale, Arizona.

In preparation for the Grand Opening of the new Tom's Thumb Trail Head Saturday, October 20, the City has asked me to let folks know that the access road into the trail head will be closed Monday, October 15 through Wednesday, October 17.

They are finalizing the road improvements and there will be no trail head access during that time period.

Please respect the temporary closure and then pack your gear and hit the great Granite of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Over the past decade we've been able to save just about all of the historic rock climbing and cleaned up many of the lesser known crags.

If you want updated climbing maps and route photos please let me know.

Rock on!

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Arizona & New Mexico
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