From left: Prominent Point, Finger Rock and Finger Rock Guard; photo by Roy Carter
The tired group on the way out; Roy Carter, Ray Peale, Mike Wolters, Frank Earnest, Sharon Simpson and Niel Christensen; photo by Frank Earnest
Mike Wolters and Frank Earnest at the top belay station; photo by Roy Carter
Roy Carter and Mike Wolters
Finger Rock is a famous Tucson area landmark that rises several thousand feet above the valley floor along Pusch Ridge of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The striking rock formation resembles a finger set atop a closed fist that is flanked on the east by the Finger Rock Guard and on the west by Prominent Point, both shear rock walls. The exposure at the top is considerable, but views north and south are magnificent.
In early May four members of the SaddleBrooke Hiking Club climbed to the top of the Finger Rock Guard and three others completed the technical climb to the iconic Finger Rock pinnacle. Finger Rock and its guard are reached by hiking 2.5 miles on the Finger Rock Trail, then following a cairned but unmarked path for another mile or so northwest to a saddle. This unmarked part of the trail can become overgrown following the rainy season because it is not frequently used by hikers.
The climb from the saddle involves a steep class three scramble through huge boulders, cacti and bushes to about the 6200-feet elevation, where the trail splits. The left fork leads to the Guard and the right fork leads to the base of the pinnacle. The technical climb to the top of Finger Rock is just under 100 feet.
The pinnacle has two very interesting physical features: a large, four-foot long boulder at the very top and a huge chock stone that sits over a two by three foot window opening.
These features provide the successful climber with a somewhat exciting summit. The hike round trip is about 7.5 miles and 3,900 feet total ascent.
Reaching the Guard were Niel Christensen, Sharon Simpson, Frank Earnest and Ray Peale. Climbing the pinnacle were Mike Wolters, Frank Brier and Roy Carter.