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| Backpack | 13.85 Miles |
1,942 AEG |
| | Backpack | 13.85 Miles | 2 Days 4 Hrs | | |
| 1,942 ft AEG | | 29 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | My first triplog - I hope I get it right  And I'll try to add photos later. . .
I am section hiking the AZT (along with a friend, Jamie) and we did passages 5 and 6 this past weekend. We dropped my car at the north end of passage 6 and because my brother-in-law agreed to shuttle us to the start of passage 5 we dropped Jamie's car with extra water on FR 231 where the trail crosses.
The hike into Kentucky Camp from the start of passage 5 was nice, and Steve (the caretaker at the camp) offered us hot coffee and a tour of the facility. We decided to take an early lunch break here too. Ran into four thru hikers ('tis the season) and wished them well. It was a very windy (gusty) day (at least it kept us cool).
After Kentucky Camp, there was a lot of road walks with some ATV riders coming and going, and lots of ups and downs. We did 12 miles and started looking for a place to camp. Lots of rocks, and not much in the way of flat areas, but we did find a space to pitch the tents and have dinner and watch the FULL MOON come up! Very bright night - and cold. The coyotes were having a party all night.
After wiping the frost off everything in the morning (burr) we packed up and headed out to get to Jamie's car (a few miles into passage 6) for lunch and to refill water. Fairly easy hike to there and we took our time at the comfort of the car to get re-organized, eat lunch and freshen up. Then on to more climbs and descents all day. It was hot, and the sun was starting to get to us, but then we got some overcast skies and a breeze  We didn't see any other hikers out there at all (strange for a Saturday I would think), but there were a few mountain bikers, and of course we heard gun shots near the roads where the there was target shooting areas (I always get a little freaked out by the gunshots - hoping that a stray bullet doesn't find it's way to me - that would suck!)
Once again we were getting to the end of the day and looking for camp spots and finding few options. There were places in a couple of the canyons but it was too early so we kept going. We ended up camping just off the trail near a spring because it was the only flat spot (maybe just past mulberry canyon?). Not as cold the second night, and very quiet. No coyote parties that night.
The last day was a much easier hiking day as the terrain flattened out, but it was my least favorite part of the trail (lots of open space, cactus. . .). Was glad to get back to the car early and head into Tucson for lunch before driving back to Phoenix for the work week. Glad to have these two passages behind us, but still a fun weekend on the trail!
We didn't check any of the water sources since we had plenty and were able to cache water, but for thru hikers there is of course water at Kentucky Camp, and we did notice some water along the way that could be filtered - and of course lots of options to cache water along some of the roads if you want.
Hope to see you on the trail! |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
some white daisy like flowers, fairy duster, and a few other flowers just starting to show. |
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