| |
|
| | |
|
| Backpack | 13.00 Miles |
4,100 AEG |
| | Backpack | 13.00 Miles | 8 Hrs | | 1.63 mph |
| 4,100 ft AEG | | 18 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | This was my first trip into the Rincon section of Saguaro National Park, and it was a beautiful one.
The morning started out an hour later than planned as I left the trailhead at 9am and the temperature was already approaching 90. I immediately noticed the stunning amount of green vegetation and wildflowers as I pushed my way up through the heat. After two miles I took a break under a large saguaro and swapped my capilene T for a sun hoody and hat, two things that I should have been wearing right from the start.
The first 5 miles of the trail are a long a steady climb up easy-to-follow single track. Once I made it into Juniper Basin I lost the trail a few times due to overgrowth and crossings over exposed rock. Some well-placed cairns and Caltopo aided me through the last 1.5 miles into camp. There was a strong flow in the seasonal creek running alongside Juniper Basin campground and while it didn't look perfectly clear after passing through my filter, it tasted great after the hot hike up. The campsite has three designated sites. 2 and 3 are relatively close to each other, while 1 is a bit more secluded. There are bearboxes available for food storage and a gnarly pit toilet as well.
My initial plan was to continue on to Grass Shack for the following night, however the amount of gnats that I encountered at Juniper Basin was so intense that I decided to cut the trip short and head back down Tanque Verde Ridge early Sunday morning. Another couple at the campsite made the same call. The return hike was predictably much more enjoyable than the climb up the previous day. Leaving camp shortly before 6 kept things cool and the descent allowed me to really pick up the pace as the prospect of an unplanned breakfast burrito loomed over my head.
I can't wait to return in the fall and make it deeper into the mountains when both the bug pressure and temperatures drop. I was very glad to have seen the spoils of the monsoon rains though, so the trip was well worth it. |
|
Wildflowers Observation Extreme
Amazing amounts of wildflowers throughout all elevations of the hike. I've never seen more butterflies in my life. |
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
