HikeArizona.COM

We are stop-and-smell-the-roses day hikers, mountain bikers and backpackers who are looking for playmates in the Tucson area. NOT swingers -- just other folks of any age, sex or marital status who appreciate the desert and good conversation. We're in our mid-50s, and all our friends are couch potatoes. Doesn't anybody want to come outside and play? More information than you needed on our web site at http://www.desertlavender.com

I used to live in Tucson, and sometimes hike in the area. I have been wanting to do a cross-mountain 3 day from Sabino Canyon to Catalina State park. In the spring I also want to do Rincon Peak; I have eyed it for years but something always comes up. Of course, easier stuff is fun also. Mrs. DT gave up all forms of exercise many years ago, so although I am happily married I am a single hiker always in search of a pal

I'm going to Tucson today. I will be near a computer until about noon. If anyone wants to join me to hike to The Window on Sat. please p.m. me. If you are not familiar, it is a long steep hike. 13 miles r/t with about 4,000 ft. of gain in 6 1/2 miles or so.

I have hiked from Sabino to Catalina State Park, as someone mentioned, many times, as a long dayhike--it's about 21 miles or so. It would make a very nice backpacking trip. The nicest backpacking trip I've done in the Catalinas, though, is one the Scouts do they call the Hohokam Trail. It is 30 miles--10 miles a day. Starting at the Lawton Scout camp hike to Mt. Bigelow, and then past Soldier camp to Sunset Trail to Marshall Gulch and Wilderness of Rocks, camp first night at Lemmon Creek Crossing. Second day go down to Romero Pass, then to West Fork of Sabino, take a dip in Hutch's Pool, camp somewhere below the pool. Third day over to Palisades Trail and back up to the Scout camp.

Lavander,

We've talked in the past and I love your approach to hiking..."stop and smell the roses" or in my case, stop and take some pictures. Next time I'm in Tucson, I'll let you know ahead of time and we can share the trail!

:mrgreen:

DT, I'll PM you separately but just wanted to say that I also have a cross Catalinas fantasy. When we hiked to Pima Saddle recently, it looked like you could come down off Mount Lemmon and trot along on exposed (but unburned) rock all the way to Romero Pass and down to Catalina State Park. Has anybody tried this? With a two-car shuttle, we could make this a one-way plus we could reduce weight by sharing a stove, fuel, food, etc. Good winter hike?

I've climbed Mt. Lemmon from Romero Canyon. I've also come down from Wilderness of Rocks, as I've already described. There are trails. You don't want to go cross country in that area! Do you have that map of the Catalinas with all the trails in red? I have one published by Rainbow Expeditions. It's very handy.

However from Pima Saddle you'd have to continue up on past Mt. Kimball, the Window, etc. and then take the Cathedral Rock Trail back down into the West Fork of Sabino. Then hike all the way back up to Romero Pass, then take the Wilderness of Rocks trail from Romero Pass. And on up to Mt. Lemmon. Romero Trail is more direct.

This is some serious hiking!

The route we're looking at is no. 8 from Mount Lemmon to Catalina State Park via Romero Pass. Thanks!

You can also make the same trip via the Sutherland Trail which I believe is the most direct route of all. The trail is a little sketchy in the midsection though.

Desertlavender and others from Tucson...you may be interested in joining a new Yahoo Group that has just been launched:

TUCSON HIKERS - Southern Arizona's Hiking Network!

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TucsonHikers/