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| Backpack | 24.40 Miles |
4,301 AEG |
| | Backpack | 24.40 Miles | 1 Day 6 Hrs 3 Mns | | |
| 4,301 ft AEG | | 22 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | On the weekend of March 19-20, I hiked Passage 1 of the AZT, from Montezuma Pass south to the border, then north to Parker Canyon Lake. My lovely wife and her friend dropped me off at the pass, and they were still there when I returned a couple of hours later. They had walked up Coronado peak, and when they got back, the parking lot was closed off to clear a space for a helicopter to land as part of a rescue operation.
I continued on north, climbing to the summit of Miller Peak, and then hiking on just a little beyond Bathtub Spring to camp just before dark. I camped in the lee of the ridge, but the wind was really noisy, and coupled with the high elevation, I did not sleep well.
Sunday morning, I got up at dawn and discovered how difficult it is to light an alcohol stove at 38 degrees. Got it going, got my breakfast, and continued on to the lake.
Overall, the trail is in great shape. Just a few trees down in Sunnyside Canyon and just above. Access to both trailheads is easy by car. There were some tiny snow patches in the shady north facing slopes near Miller Peak, but nothing even remotely difficult. There might be a little more now. The weather came in just as I got to Parker Canyon Lake, and left at least a dusting of snow at higher elevations.
Compared to all the Sonoran desert I have been haunting lately, this area was a pleasure to visit. Lots of oaks, Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, and Junipers made for a nice forest at the higher elevation. On the other hand, going uphill above 7000’ is always a challenge for this old guy.
We did pretty well hitting our rendezvous time at the marina. I was 10 minutes early and my wife was 25 minutes early. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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