May 3&4, 2013 Arizona Border with Mexico to Parker Canyon Lake (22.9 miles and 5,300 feet of climbing)

Trying to hold the AT bandanna, keep the hat on
and not get blown into Mexico!!

This was the last of my hikes for this winter/spring season and an enjoyable one to end the season.  I was able to share this hike with my friend Steve Lingwall and his brother Nathan.  We also had great assistance from Mark LaPaglia, a longtime family friend. (Mark used to work for Victoria and I at the bike shop)  Mark is now a successful bike shop owner in Sierra Vista. If you are ever in Sierra Vista, please stop in and say hi to Mark and his staff at Sun n' Spokes.




Mark provided much needed transportation logistics as well as critical information about where to pig out (The Lodge, you can't miss it, Sasquatch is out in front) while we were in Sierra Vista.

This is written in Spanish on the opposite side.

Steve and Nathan weren't quite as smart as Lillian, Dain, Ernie and Andrea were a couple of weeks ago as they agreed to accompany me on the entire hike, although I'm sure there were times they questioned that logic over the course of the hike!!!

There is always one in the crowd!!!  I bet some of
Steve's class photos looked like this!!  We were smiling here, not
so much two hours and several thousand feet later.

I dare you to drink that!!!  This is "Bathtub Spring.  Who puts a
bathtub in the middle of nowhere??  I'm not sure who, but
hikers in this area are ever grateful.

This hike is the first passage of the Arizona Trail, but is unique because to get to the border you have to hike south from the Montezuma Pass TH and then back-track back to the TH.  To make things easier, we decided to do that portion on Friday, then tackle the rest of the hike on Saturday.  That was definitely a good decision.

Our hike on Friday was enjoyable and provided time to take lots of photos at the border and do some sightseeing at the Coronado National Monument.  It was also the windiest day I have had so far on the Arizona Trail.  Winds were steady at 20+ mph with gusts probably 30-40 mph.  We figure we ate a few pounds of dust each.

We have to hike all the way to the lake??  Who's idea was this?

The hike on Saturday was about 19 miles, but it included a climb up above 9,000 feet in elevation and many miles at between 7,500 and 8,500.  (Believe it or not, this is the highest point on the Arizona Trail and you are only about 6 miles from the Mexican Border)










For desert dwellers like us elevation like that makes for a challenging  outing.  It was windy again, but not quite as bad as the previous day.  The unfortunate part of both windy days was that it severely hampered the views, which would have been stunning without the dusty haze.

Again, this was one of the passages where there are many stories, warnings and online posts about issues with illegal border crossers using the AZT and creating confusing trail networks.  My experience was just the opposite over the past few months.  I found the trails well marked and maintained.  I never saw or heard anything that threatened me and I never experienced large amounts of trash.  In fact, this passage was one of the better maintained and marked segments, especially considering the amount of miles that are inside the Wilderness area.

Old technology, still working!!!

April 20th, 2013 Patagonia to Gardner Canyon TH, (22.4 miles and 3,200 feet of climbing)

This was one of two day hikes I had planned this winter/spring.  After the last three day hike it was a welcome trip, even if it was a bit long.  There are a few nice things about a day hike, first it is over in one day, sleep in a bed, no freeze dried meals etc.  Second, you only have to carry a day pack, much nicer than a backpack with three days worth of supplies.  Lastly, it offered a chance for some friends to join me on the hike.  This was a nice addition and one I also will write about after my May 4th hike.

Great views looking back southeast towards Patagonia

For this hike I was joined by my friends Lillian and her husband Dain and Ernie and his sister Andrea.  But before you begin thinking I hang out with a bunch of other crazies willing to hike 22 miles in a day, my friends are much smarter than I am.

It is amazing where you can find water in AZ

Lillian and Dain dropped me off in Patagonia (beginning point of my hike) and then drove to the ending point (Gardner Canyon TH).  They met Ernie and Andrea there and hiked in from the other side, taking their time, enjoying the scenery.  In fact, Lillian and Dain hiked in about 6 miles, found a nice stream with big shady trees and had lunch and took it easy waiting for me.  (When I finally got there Lillian had found a nice spot formed by the roots/trunk of a large sycamore tree and was napping peacefully.  She says resting, I say napping).  Ernie and Andrea had turned around earlier and we caught them on the way out, not too far from the trailhead parking.

I was a little worried about this hike, it starts with a 14 mile uphill route mostly on a Forest Service Road.  I envisioned lots of vehicles, eating a lot of dust and not much in the way of scenery.  The result was much different, I only saw one vehicle, the scenery was good approaching Mt. Wrightson and the climb was mostly gradual (except for the last portion).

Mt.Wrightson was clearly visible all day.  

When I finally caught up to Lillian and Dain, the remainder of the hike was along an old water line alignment used by miners hoping to find gold in the area.  The remaining walk was relatively flat and easy with great views and interesting history.

One of the other great things about a good day hike like this, we get to stop for Mexican food and beer on the way home.  Ernie knew this great little place in Tucson and we enjoyed a great after hike meal.

History Lesson on the hike!!!

From a distance, those trees look like just another part of the mountain