Route: leaving the car at the South Mesa Trail Head ($5 parking, lucky to get a space at 10am on a Labor Day Weekend Sunday) and taking the Mesa Trail. Sadly, almost immediately going wrong by taking a left turn too soon onto Homestead Trail and then being further unnerved by too reports of an angry (contrast, eg., perky) rattle snake. Despite this following this trail round, gaining ground and eventually rejoining the Mesa higher up. Turning left onto the Shadow Canyon Trail which rose steeply though on a broad graded track until it became single track and entered the canyon proper on a steep path over roots and boulders though clear. After 3 km reaching a shoulder where turning left for a rocky path and final easy scramble to the summit of South Boulder Peak. Descending the same way as far as the bottom of the canyon and then turning left on a narrow track, with steep slopes to the right, heading to the Mesa Trail and turning right on this eventually to rejoin some of the outward route but continuing to pick up Towhee Trail and follow this to the start.
Conditions: the originally forecast rain having been revised away, a warm sunny day though not too hot in the canyon nor on the ridge.
Pub: the Southern Sun Pub for Mountain Sun Brewery Annapurna Ale and Illusion Dweller IPA (and nachos with salsa and guacamole).
