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| Catalina State Park to Gordon Hirabayash, AZ | |
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| | Catalina State Park to Gordon Hirabayash, AZ | | | |
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Catalina State Park to Gordon Hirabayash, AZ
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| Backpack | 20.00 Miles |
5,500 AEG |
| | Backpack | 20.00 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 5,500 ft AEG | | 25 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | This was a fantastic backpacking trip...wonderful weather and good folks on it. I arranged this with the ABC as a way to get me out on the trail closer to home. Too many hikes north of Phoenix these days!
We headed up the Romero Canyon trail around 6pm, and I was surprised how busy the lower parts of the trail were even this late in the evening. However, once we got past the second hill, we saw only a few stragglers coming down. The full moon came out right on cue, and it was bright enough (a super moon, I'm told) that we could hike sans-headlamps. The pools were beauty bathed in moonlight, and we wandered around a bit up above trying to find a good campsite where there were enough trees for 2 hangers. Finding camp in the moonlight - not as easy as finding trail. But, we settled on the spot just above the falls, with the view of the (ahem) beautiful Oro Valley lights. I think we were all tried from a long day of work followed by travel, followed by hiking, so we turned in early.
The next morning we had a leisurely start (which turns out was a pattern with this group). The stretch up to the higher camp wasn't bad, and there was nice cool water in the creek at that point. However, from there up was a killer climb. I've been having some trouble with my "groove" lately, and this hill was a serious kink for me. But, we made it up to Romero Pass without incident and started back down into West Fork Sabino.
I wanted to note for the record that though it's spring, you'd be hard pressed to guess it in the foothills of the Catalinas. Not only are they virtually void of the wildflowers we've had so plentifully in the past couple of years, but what is alive has been badly damaged by the very cold temperatures we had this winter. Particularly, the hopseed bush (which is one of the quickest to return after the fires) is brown, crispy and depressing. The oaks are acting quite stressed - some even in fall color. Even the small annuals that you typically see at the water's edge are missing. It certainly takes some of the fun out of hiking out there. Everyone on the trip but myself, however, was hiking in all new territory, so they were enthralled by the amazing rock formations and beautiful vistas. If only they knew what I know!
Down from Romero Pass, the trail was in great shape - many of the downed trees I've been running into the last few years were either cleared or had a good enough route around them that they barely slowed us down. The heat was amazing considering the time of year, but I just pulled out the 'brella and coasted down the hill. It seemed like no time and we were at the Cathedral Rock Trail junction. A group we met there were doing our route in reverse - more or less - and I think they thought we were the crazy ones. However, as we were coasting down hill that hot afternoon, they were just starting up, and I wondered who was crazy after all.
In spite of reports from the East-West group, there was plentiful water at Cathedral Creek, but it disappeared underground right at the base of that slick rock area. I pumped myself a couple of liters of water while the rest of the group moved on. That made for some delightful solo hiking down to Hutch's - though to be honest, I just wasn't feeling great. The wind kept blowing my umbrella backwards, and I felt like I was carrying a block on my head.
Hutch's was beauty as usual - a couple of our members braved the VERY cold water and took quick swims. Zeke (strong, twenty-something) was climbing up out of the water and we hear this girly shriek followed by a splash. His report was that a canyon frog attacked him (actually, he said it was a giant toad), as he was scaling the rock walls. Toad - 1, Zeke - 0.
We contemplated camping there, but we just weren't completely ready to be done for the day. I knew there were a few good spots closer to the East Fork/Sabino junction, so we kept walking. There were indeed a few choice spots, but there was either no water or someone already in residence. Finally, we found a spot literally straddling the first few feet of the East Fork Trail. A trickle of water in the East Fork creekbed meant we had a ample supply. The troops made a fire down in the creek bed, but my tired butt crawled into that hammock and let the moon sing me to sleep.
Next morning was again a slow, easy one. We packed up and started up the East Fork, but not until after 4 or 5 other groups of day hikers had already hiked on past our camp. East Fork is always such a nice trail, and I even enjoy going up it as much as going down. We made the pass in a short little jaunt, then headed right back down into the Sycamore basin. There was a little stagnant water in the creek here, but not much. About half way along the basin we ran into Rae-Rae and her puppy, a happy encounter even if it was expected. We stopped for lunch and to throw Wendys on the dam before hiking the last up hill out.
At the top of that saddle we ran into an older couple with some very old dogs. The two little wiener dogs were literally dragging their tongues on the ground, and the old lab-mix (who made me desperately miss my old Paula), looked like she was on her last legs. Of course, they were all happy, but I went ahead and advised against venturing any further down the hot hill. I have to admit I was relieved when the whole group reappeared at the parking lot shortly after we did.
When we got back to Gordon Hirabayashi CG, half of us had a longish wait for our shuttle. I took a short nap in the shade of those giant cottonwoods down on the rock-work walls. Always one of my favorite things to do. Only thing missing was my Lilo.
Overall, a good hike - but definitely not a walk in the park. Gotta love those Catalinas! |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.- Barack Obama |
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