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| Backpack | 30.00 Miles |
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| | Backpack | 30.00 Miles | 4 Days | | |
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| no partners | | I got a lot of great help from user Jim_H to make my first visits to the Santa Ritas (this is my first triplog here, not sure if we can tag other users). I did 2 backpacks in a week there after bailing on my first trip due to getting caught in "severe gale force" winds and driving snow (Mar 14-15) at Baldy Saddle. My tent got blown down and I had to cowboy camp in 50+ mph sustained winds & sub-freezing temps. This report is mostly from my second trip.
AZT / Ditch Mountain
Be warned: the only commercially available map for the Santa Ritas (Green Trail Maps) shows the wrong location of the AZT, as does CalTopo. That caused problems for me on my first trip. Second trip I followed the old AZT routing starting from Apache Springs TH - down the Forest Road to Ditch Mountain Trail. Camped near Bear Spring.
Walker Basin / Gardner Canyon
Good climbs on these trails to go from the foothills of the Santa Ritas to the Crest. I didn't start to see snow on the trail until the upper reaches of Gardner Cyn Tr (~8000'). Looking around at north-facing slopes showed the snow level starting ~6500'.
Super Trail
The stretch of Super Tr from Gardner Cyn to Baldy Saddle was mostly snow covered. Fortunately the snow was still cold and hard-packed (Mar 21) so I was not post-holing. Another good climb, ~500' over a half mile. I didn't attempt Wrightson, it was completely snow covered, but some day hikers were doing it. Camped on a little exposed knoll above Baldy Saddle with great views - the same spot I got stormed out of a few days before.
Crest
Most of the Crest Tr was snow covered but it was entirely passable. I carried traction devices but didn't need them the whole trip. Snow was still cold and hard-packed (Mar 22) so I was not post-holing. As with all Sky Island crests - incredible views with many mountain ranges in the distance (Huachucas, Whetstones, Patagonias, Rincons, Catalinas, etc.)
East Sawmill Canyon
After Crest this was my second favorite Trail of the hike. Starts off a little confusingly by continuing to rise along the Santa Rita crest before dropping into East Sawmill Cyn. Beautiful forests up top, tight canyon in the middle, desert scrubland at the end.
Greaterville
My map showed the beginning and end points of this trail as about the same elevation so I thought it was going to be a mostly flat walk. Nope. Goes straight up a ridge then straight back down the other side. Greaterville Tr links to FR 165 which I took until connecting back with the AZT.
AZT
Road walk for a bit to Kentucky Camp where I stayed the night. Better camping back along the AZT than here at KY but there was water at KY. Finished up the trip along the AZT back to Apache Springs TH.
All in all the Santa Ritas were a great place to backpack. Trail system very nice and no problems navigating. Water was flowing everywhere except Baldy Spring which was covered in snow. Thanks again to Jim_H. |
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