The trail winds around the ridge as Tom's Thumb slowly gets closer.

Another Saguarro cactus along the trail.  There are suprisingly few of them around this trail. 

But there are plenty of these glowing Cholla cacti.  This is the view looking South toward McDowell Mountain and Thompson Peak.

More spectacular rock formations and glowing cacti as Tom's Thumb gets closer

A view of Tom's Thumb through a keyhole rock formation of giant granite megaliths. 

Another view of Tom's Thumb through a keyhole rock formation of giant granite megaliths. 

The Lumix had difficulty focussing on the distant image. 
The camera has many focus settings, and I was apparently using the wrong setting here.   

It is amazing to see all the fingers and thumbs around here on this ridge of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

Now you can actually start to see the West side of the thumb as you make your way along the ridge. 

Only half a mile more to go!!

View looking Southeast at Fountain Hills. 

8X Zoom view of fountain hills.  There is the lake in the distance with the big spectacular fountain.
After this photo was taken my Lumix batteries died and I had to use my Blackberry phone for the remaining photos. 

The number and size of the boulder formations increases dramatically as you get closer to the thumb.

More big boulders line the trail

This group of boulders has caves and evidence of water for these plants.

More boulders and megaliths line the trail as the trail winds closer to the base of the thumb

Another example of the massive boulders that are everywhere on the top ridge next to Tom's Thumb

Yet another example of the massive boulder formations that are everywhere on the top ridge next to Tom's Thumb

Yet another example of the massive boulder formations that are everywhere on the top ridge next to Tom's Thumb