Got here just in time to get a shoot with some decent lighting. This part of the AZT was the most enjoyable hike so far. This is located in the Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson. The trail is cut into the mountainside and the valley below is way down there. I guess this spot is a popular for swimming in the summer months. Accessible only by trail, must be a good reward in the desert heat.
This is where I filtered from the best water source in the park at Manning camp.
I was hiking along the end of Suicide Ridge and this clearing opened up causing me to throw my pack to the ground so I could yank out my camera. This was in the morning of my record 21.6 mile hike with about 2000 feet gained and 5000 feet downhill. It took ten hours. Why can’t the experience of the return trip seeming shorter happen in these marathon type situations.
After filling up five liters of sweet Manning Camp water I began my hike down suicide ridge toward Happy Valley Saddle which is at the base of this beauty. The extra water was to cover me in case there was none to be found in this remote spot. I had planned to hike the 6.4 mile round trip summit trail to the peak if there was water which would have allowed me to stay at the base for two nights. Three things happened that caused a change to my plans and this is something I’m running into often. Further proof that you really just need to wing it. First there was only a low flow in a muddy creek for a water source. There was a couple that had just climbed the peak giving it a try but I guess I’m snobby compared to them when it comes to my backwoods water. They sounded British and were the only other humans I saw in the park besides the UK couple that camped at Manning the night before. That makes five total humans sleeping in the National Park this whole week and I was the only American. Hard to believe when there is actually water to be found and the weather was perfect. The second problem was that my appetite was increasing and I started to dip into the next days rations. I was beginning to realize that I did not have enough food to last five nights. As I laid down to weigh my options I discovered the third problem. My air mattress was no longer holding air. It kept just enough inside to allow me to sleep that night.
After the intense uphill climb up cow saddle pass it was good to know that I had this refreshment waiting for me at the top. I’m not sure if this is a spring fed pond or if it is just a damn that collects from a creek that only has water after significant rain like most in Arizona. Regardless, it is damn tasty after coming up from the low lands.
This is the view as you approach the Douglas Spring campground in Saguaro National Park. The little white spot near the center of the photo is the composting toilet. Nice thing to have in the middle of the desert. The ridge at the top is part of the cow saddle pass trail which I went up the next day and came down on my way out. It is a really hard climb when you are just getting started with your midlife crisis training. The way down is much better. Very scenic and a bit more relaxing.
This is a photo of Chimenea Creek at the Grass Shack Campground in Saguaro NP. I have been putting my water filter to the test and will be heading back Sunday to see if I can make it to Rincon Peak. Hopefully there is some water there or it may not workout. I underestimated the elevation gain/loss on this first trip and had to hike out to replan. On day one I hiked 7 miles gaining 3000 feet while losing some in the process. On day two I hiked 9 miles gaining 4000 feet. Day three was a rest day, but I still had to hike down nearly 3000 feet in only 4.5 miles. I rested that afternoon. Had I not done that I would most likely not have been able to complete day four’s 13.5 mile 2000 up and 4000 feet down trek back to my truck. Still feeling it as I write this. Needless to say I did not take a lot photos on this trip.
I arrived at the trailhead near sunrise anticipating to hike a section of the AZT for the day. The mountain in front of me was mesmerizing and shortly into the hike I saw hints of a summit trail on the trail marking sticks. When I got to the one with an arrow pointing toward the mountain I decided I would give it a try even though I did not know a thing about the route. At first it was switchbacks leading up closer to the base followed by a steep trail cutting through large boulders. There were several cairns marking the way and then there were two separate cairns, in different locations, as if there was a fork in the trail. I stopped for awhile and thought about what to do. I decided to go back down and read up on this confusing trail. At one point I slipped on loose gravel and almost fell on my face. I scratched my legs pretty good but I didn’t slide down twenty feet or anything like that so it barely phased me. I read up on the trail and may return for another attempt.
There is a nail in the tree and some human markings but what caused this strange star like carving? This was taken on the See Canyon trail near Payson. There is a good flowing spring called See Spring near here. I did not try the water but I’m sure it is better than the spring I tasted early this morning. Yesterday I started from the Barnhardt Trailhead and hiked 5 miles up the mountains to the Mazatzal Divide Trail skirting Mazatzal Peak. I’ll be back to conquer that peak someday. Anyway, I had hopes of staying up in this beautiful range and I thought the water source would be sufficient, however when I filtered some of bear springs water and took a taste it was sulfur water. The reports on Guthook were positive but the AZT thru-hikers must be more seasoned than me.
At the end of day 3 it was good to be back at this source. Lots of water coming out of the side of the mountain.
Crossing Christopher Creek after starting at the 260 trailhead. Hiked a total of 13.5 miles on day one to Horton Spring which was a tasty water source. I repeated this going back to the trailhead on day 4.
This was a really good day for hiking on the AZ Highline Trail. The cloud cover was nice for a change. I hiked for 10 hours with breaks which was about 15 miles of trail. When I got to the campsite at 6pm it was still calm. I listened to my book for awhile and then decided to try and fall asleep. Pretty much right at that moment, a completely surprise wind started to roar and I had a night of 30 mph wind gusts until I reached my truck at 9am the next morning. It felt to me like I was on the summit of Everest. With zero sleep I waited until the break of dawn so I could see the trail and I hoofed it out of there. I had forgotten about wind.
Woke up early and packed my stuff just before some heavy rain and hail which hit while I was breaking in my new water filter. It didn’t last too long but upon looking back into the valley, it gave me the feeling that the two girls I saw heading in were going to have some fun.
Lots of creek crossings and jets overhead in this cow infested section of the trail. Once you get past the ranch there is a nice creek and a spring.
Paid eight bucks for this site in the NW corner of AZ after driving through the extremely busy Zion NP. I could not even find parking at the visitors center so I hit the road and found this gem. Even had my own little trail down to the virgin river. Got up early the next morning and scored a backcountry permit at Zion in the Hop Valley.
8 more miles to go and I can head in for some RNR.
I did not take many photos on this day or the next. I hiked about 13 miles in from the Pine TH and as the description says it was strenuous .
After a crazy drive on the last 22 miles on Hwy 88, I went for a 5 hour hike on the AZT. The last 22 miles of 88 are not paved and I felt like I was driving on one of those dangerous road episodes. The only person I saw on the hike was a rancher on his ATV along with 3 small dogs. I saw some of his cows eating cactus. Must be an acquired skill.
Everything was great until I packed up and started out this morning. That lone mountain biker I met on day one was right. The mud is like miles of peanut butter. “You’ll be better off walking next to the trail” he said. That may work on single track, but I was on a jeep trail.
Last time I saw one of these was in Texas. Luckily I did not get any of those orange hairs shot into my skin.