HikeArizona.COM

I'm section hiking as stated above. I'm an event organizer for the BCH Meetup group, so the trip is open for those members but I'd love to have anyone who wants to knock out those sections. I'll just add HAZ members as my "+1s"

Details:
52 miles total
3.5 days to complete
I'll take care of the Saguaro Permits
We'll be setting up shuttles between Gabe Z. and Gordon H. trail heads.

I always take safety first and will cancel in the event of inclement weather.

I can go into greater trip details for those who are interested.

I have been interested in hiking these segments together. Do you have the details of this hike? I would be driving down from Phoenix.

I put the route together here: http://hikearizona.com/map.php?MY=5179&M=6

We'll be starting on friday, travelling to Rincon Creek since Saguaro NP does not allow camping except on designated sites (14 mi). Saturday we'll be hiking to Manning Camp (I'll get the reservations Monday) That will be 14 miles of uphill. The next day is pretty much downhill. I'd like to push 15-20 miles and camp near the first reliable water past that ( possibly Molino Basin Campground). Monday we hike out the balance to Gordon Hirabayashi TH and drive home.

I haven't hiked with you so please make sure you're up to this trip. Not a beginner trip. I hike at a moderate speed, start early and hike late. Typically two hour intervals of hiking with good breaks between.

Still interested?

The Lake (near Bellotta Ranch Rd in the Redington Pass area, just N of the AZT and hidden from view) will probably have some water, and decent camping prospects. West Spring, most assuredly I'd think, but not so much a camping area. Possible some water in the washes between these two spots, with occasional riparian shade. The bit from there to Molino CG has a pretty solid climb, and Molino water is either questionable wash dribble or (I believe) campground host. Are there public faucets? I've never noticed. Right on the highway, plenty of RV's and assorted mayhem. I would never choose to camp there out of a backpack.

I concur with Blisterfree regarding the Lake as preferable to Molino. I researched it via the Coronado NF website and they profess to having no water there. It's funny how many stock ponds I've found that are labelled "the Lake " on topos.

The Lake itself can be quite large and of good quality following rains. A duck pond, in essence. There's a smaller satellite impoundment at trailside that's easy to confuse with the real "The Lake" which is reached, IIRC, via a branching wash (right fork) not far after crossing dirt Bellotta Ranch Rd westbound. In any case, poke around in that direction and it should be obvious.

Here it is on the sats, with the AZT route line superimposed: