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| Hiking | 12.64 Miles |
1,971 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.64 Miles | 6 Hrs 10 Mns | | 2.15 mph |
| 1,971 ft AEG | 17 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | I was planning on AZT3, but with the unexpected hotter temps this weekend, I decided to do AZT10, which was half the distance and half the drive. Should be much easier. Should be. Not quite.
I had never driven on Redington Road and asked Andy what the condition is like. The Xterra is getting older and last year a mechanic told me to keep an eye on the lower ball joints. Andy assured me that it's smooth and easily passable for any passenger vehicle. This would not be Andy's only miscalculation of the day.
After 4 hours of driving (including a 30 min drive directly into the sun in heavy traffic along Grant Rd), we finally begin the hike at 9am from Molino Basin. We immediately get on the wrong trail and hike over a quarter mile straight up a good 300'. Fortunately Wally and Andy hadn't got too far ahead when I noticed and could hear me yelling.
Breezes were nice at the first pass after the first (and second climb). Seemed like this might be a nice hike. Views were pretty nice, too.
It was getting near lunch time and I kept expecting to see Andy and Wally to be around the next turn having lunch. I saw a game/cattle trail crossing the trail and decided to check my GPS. It was then I noticed that I had hiked a half mile on the road to Bellota Ranch off of the AZT. Once I got back I noticed the one plastic marker I had seen, but I had missed the 2nd plastic marker that fell down that marked the proper direction to follow the AZT and not take the road. The AZT needs to fix this.
Ate lunch in the shade with Wally and Andy. Had to pick a spot where there were no cow patties. Soon after we found a shadier spot higher up with many rocks and logs to sit on. Murphy strikes again.
Passed Andy and he said the heat was bugging him. I noticed he fell back fast and I waited at the next pass to make sure he was keeping up. Once I saw him I pressed on.
Saw Wally taking his break waiting for us. I caught up to him and we both waited for Andy. Once we saw him, we pressed on again. This was on the last climb southbound that is gradual, but lasts a good 2-3 miles. The heat and rockiness of the trail didn't help matters. Wally and both felt frustrated on the way up and kind of spent once we were done. Andy had similar sentiments. x10.
Last third of a mile the trail fades and braids. I followed the most prominent braid and saw the bike guard crossing several feet to my left. This section really needs some attention by the AZT. Of course this means that it will be re-routed and we'll need to redo this in 10 years. Fun times.
I left out the parts about all the catclaw. By this point in my life I've learned to dress to minimize that (and I think I discovered which of my shirts is catclaw proof  ), but my boot laces kept coming untied, even after I did double knots.
Waited for Andy for 45 minutes, thankfully he was ok and made it back ok. he was obviously spent but was visibly recovering as we drove back to Molino Basin as he cooled off in the AC and rehydrated.
Fought traffic thru Tucson into the setting sun on Grant Road. Got home at 8pm, a good 15+ hours after I left. Nice to get this section done. Waiting for the reroute when I have to do it again. I wonder if Andy will be interested. |
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