Hey everybody and welcome.
Today I'm coming at you from Scottsdale, Arizona.
I'm here to answer a question that I've
had for almost two decades.
What the heck is Tom's Thumb?
[mysterious music]
For those of you that live here,
you've probably heard of it.
You probably have seen it
on the other side of the mountains,
maybe commuting on your way to work,
driving around Scottsdale...
Well, I'm here to see what it's like
up close and personal and if you've ever
wondered that yourself,
stick around and let's go check it out.
Alright, I just arrived here at the
trailhead for Tom's Thumb Trail.
You can see it's more people than
I would have thought for a
July day in Arizona in the summer.
Kind of pleased to see a selection of
vehicles because maybe that will lessen
the chance that someone will break into my car
since there are more people here but I
was hoping for less.
I came here in the afternoon to avoid crowds
so I wouldn't call this a crowd but
still more people than I would have thought.
Very doubtful that we're gonna run
into this today in the middle of the day
because they don't like to come out in
the middle of the day but, yeah, you got
rattlesnakes out here.
So you always want to be wary of that.
Lots of really amazing information about
the geology of this area.
They're talking about Tom's Thumb
which is made of granite.
It's a granite monolith.
They've got these little things to
line up your view.
One for Tom's Thumb so let's see here
if we could see Mr Tom's Thumb.
Look at that. You see it?
That's our destination today
way up there.
Alright, I am ready to do this.
Been wanting to do this for a very long time
and I have no idea why the heck I haven't.
so, yeah, I think let's just get this party started.
[mysterious music]
So some basic stats about this trail.
AllTrails says it's four miles long out and back so
up to the top and back the way we came.
1200 feet... a little bit more than that
in elevation gain.
Certainly not the toughest thing I've
ever done by far.
The sign interestingly down there
at the trailhead says it's 2.2 miles to the top
which means it's more like closer to
four and a half miles
round trip so whatever.
To me that's pretty negligible.
Already the views are fantastic
especially facing east towards Four Peaks.
I suspect once we get to the top we'll
be able to see Scottsdale and Phoenix
from the other side.
So excited to see what that view is like.
Also lots of educational signs
about the plants of the area.
If you're new to the Sonoran Desert
and want to learn what the plants are
I always love when places do stuff like this.
Always a nice touch.
I'll be for the first to tell you I'm still learning.
I've lived here almost 20 years now.
I certainly don't know what every single plant is.
I know the popular ones.
The cacti and things like that
but, yeah, some of the leafier ones...
still learning.
Some beautiful prickly pear.
I mean these aren't as vibrant
as a lot of the other ones.
The fruit that you see on them.
These are some of my favorite cacti here
in the Sonoran Desert.
Especially when they've got the fruit on them.
Oftentimes you'll see them much
more vibrant red hues
but these are still pretty.
I don't think this is this exact same
type of cholla that we see every time.
These look a little bit different.
More bulbous on the inside.
I've experienced it and Amy can
certainly tell you from recent experience...
There's all these thorny things in the desert.
Even in our backyard.
Every once in a while one of us will be walking
around the yard doing yard work or whatever
wearing sneakers with rubber sole shoes
and you'll just catch one of these like
really strong spines that'll go through
your shoe and into your foot.
No joke.
I don't think either one of us
have had a situation where
we had to go see a doctor go to urgent
care or anything but
man is that painful.
[music]
As we approach the base of this mountain here...
It didn't look that steep from far off
but the closer I get,
that's looking ever higher up
on that mountainside.
We're gonna get it done.
Don't you worry but, yeah,
we got some climbing to do today.
I only learned this morning from some
quick internet-based research.
Where did Tom's Thumb get its name?
I figured it was something from, like,
the 1800s, the Old West, pioneer days...
Apparently it's not.
Apparently it's named after a guy named Tom
that hiked up to the top of this thing
about 40 years ago I think is what it said.
So what is that?
Like, the late 1970s...
early 80s I'm guessing.
Yeah, it's not named after
some pioneer or something like that.
Just the dude that went up
there for the first time apparently.
A quick check-in. This is very handy.
We have 1.7 miles to go to get to the top.
Just you wait, old Tom Thumb.
I'm coming for you.
[Music]
Whoo!
Started to climb suddenly here.
I can feel my legs.
I haven't been using them properly.
So definitely
got the heavy breathing going on.
Certainly a testament
to how easy it is to lose it
if you're not careful.
Especially once you hit middle age.
Oof.
I'm here at Harris's Hawk Vista.
Beautiful overview
of the surrounding area.
Some lucky son of a gun
got a beautiful house out here
in the middle of the desert.
The only thing that kind of sucks
and I noticed this coming in.
You could see a lot of construction sites.
Probably building new homes over there
and over there.
Can we just not leave some of the land
alone here in Arizona?
Come on.
Here's a quick progress check-in.
You can see the parking lot and that
covered facility where the restrooms
were where I started.
Really good view.
We're coming up high enough to see Four Peaks again.
Absolutely stunning view of that.
Just downed a water.
Staying hydrated.
I'm feeling the heat actually
even though it's in the 90s.
It's affecting me a little bit heavier today.
You can see
still got a ways to go.
According to a sign over here
we have 1.4 miles to go which means we
are almost halfway there
but not quite.
[Music]
I'm at a nice little overlook.
Drinking some water.
Getting closer but still got a ways to go.
Pretty elusive that Tom's Thumb, I'd say.
You know a thought that just occurred to me...
I don't recall seeing a single saguaro cactus today
here and we're in the Sonoran Sesert.
There's a lone one down there.
That's really weird actually, you know,
for being out here in the desert.
Because, like, right on the other side of this
you'll see hundreds of them.
Who would have known there was such a
wonderland of rocks back here?
Rock climbing and all sorts of
recreational activities
here right behind the McDowell's.
[Music]
This might now be my favorite trail
in the Phoenix area
and certainly a really good one, I think, for fitness.
A lot of people trail running here
and I think this is a good one because you can see
the trail has been very clear and free of obstructions.
[Music]
Another check-in point.
Point eight miles to go.
Still making progress but,
boy, does it feel like I
came further than that.
[Music]
Yeah, that shot you saw of me
kind of walking in a distance
down this trail here.
The camera was way up on that hill.
I walked to this point and had
to go back and get the camera.
So I'm doing double duty here.
Just trying to show you the commitment I have
to the Cactus Atlas.
We take it seriously around here.
[Music]
Less than a half mile to go
and I came across this gem.
This shade.
Sweet, sweet shade.
This spot in the shade. Oh my god.
This is a godsend.
Really. I needed this.
Nice comfortable seat on the rocks here too.
Holy moly.
I don't think I'm far but, yeah,
this is stretching me to my limits today.
Alright, I'm heading out again.
Leaving my nice little shady spot.
Could hit it on the way back.
Um, yeah.
I want to get up there because
I'm going to try to get there before other
people show up.
I think I'm the only one up on the mountain now.
[Music]
Now we came up and over the McDowell's
and we're looking off towards Phoenix now
and North Scottsdale.
I think is that not Piestewa Peak?
Maybe Camelback. I can't tell exactly.
It's interesting how wide these
mountains are though.
Like the depth to them.
In my mind I just pictured, like, really steep mountains
that you would go over really quick but
it's really a sequence of like really
tall hills and mountains that kind of roll.
So crossing them has been quite a chore.
[Music]
Ironically the higher up I go
the more shade there is.
Ah. Not complaining though.
Not complaining in the slightest.
[Music]
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you
Tom's Thumb.
[Music]
Tom's Thumb.
[Music]
More like Tom's shade. [laugh]
For me personally this is an epic moment.
You don't understand how long
I pondered this rock monolith.
All these years and here I am face to face
with Tom's Thumb.
[Music]
I am leaning up against Tom's Thumb.
The angle is perfect for leaning. Ah.
They do advertise the trail and warn
you that is very exposed and no shade
and that's true most of the time but clearly
there is a reward waiting for you at
the top depending on the time of day
and the angle of the sun, of course.
Exquisite, righteous shade.
Look at this too.
I'm afraid to go in here almost.
If that thing fell.
Look at all these little caves.
Like, areas of shade.
They're very clear.
I don't know if any critters are in here but
all within view
of Mr. Tom's Thumb.
Alright, so Tom's Thumb.
I touched it.
I made the equivalent of snow angels on it
and rubbed my sweat all over it.
I conquered it.
Another one to mark off the list
I got you Tom's Thumb. I got you.
And that raven agrees.
[Music]
Alright, Tom's Thumb.
I will see you later.
Nice to make your acquaintance finally though.
Now I gotta walk back.
I'm only halfway done with a hike today
if you can believe that.
Oh my god.
Alright. Turn around.
Get in one more look at Tom's Thumb before
heading on back down.
Drinking in the view.
You know, I like trails like this that have,
like, a prize at the end.
Something unique to see.
That's why this trail I think is pretty cool.
Tom's Thumb is awesome.
Definitely a unique sight
here in the Phoenix area.
[Music]
Alright, so here's the deal. I'm back.
That destroyed me.
Holy moly.
I'm trying to analyze what happened here.
I made it to the top.
I feel awesome about that.
I've checked that off my list.
But I've never struggled with a hike
like that in my entire life.
I did have to pee recently and
I think part of the reason
is despite thinking that I was hydrated enough and
had enough water...
It's clear that I didn't based on the color of my urine.
Not to be gross but just being factual.
I brought enough water with me.
I still have water left.
I wasn't wanting of water.
I think the key is is that I didn't drink enough
before I came here and I thought I did.
I think that's part of it.
I think the other part of it is
I'm older now and
each time I just let months go by
and I don't do anything to really
maintain my fitness.
Today was a wake-up call.
My first real wake-up call I think.
I really think I recognize the
importance of trying to stay fit
and healthy because
I've never struggled like that.
I've done trails like this plenty of times
on much hotter days than today.
Today wasn't even that bad to be honest.
Probably was still in the 90s and
there's a breeze the whole time
but holy crap that killed me.
I was really questioning it at a few points
even coming back down.
That sun was brutal. Very exposed.
So let that be a lesson to you.
A guy that thought he was experienced
and had it down
didn't quite get to the danger zone
I would say but probably wasn't too
far off today so
I'm just glad to be back.
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Dude, I think it's time
to fire up the Kenny Loggins
for the ride home. Danger zone style.
Because I was on the highway to the
danger zone back there I think.
Woo doggy.
[Music]