A Ridges North • Hike • New Mexico • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Aug 30 2017

markthurman53

Guides 187
Routes 989
Photos 12,068
Triplogs 864

72 male

Joined Jun 27 2015
Tucson, Arizona

SNP West Sweetwater Sendero Esperanza Loop, AZ

Hiking		Aug 30 2017
		markthurman53 • Triplogs 864

Hiking	13.00 Miles	3,026 AEG

Hiking	13.00 Miles	5 Hrs 44 Mns		2.70 mph
	3,026 ft AEG	55 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

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Wasson Peak via Sweetwater Trail

Partners

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no partners

Started the hike at 0530 at the El Camino Del Cerro trail Head on Saguaro National Park West. Great time to start so I could be done by 1100. Some of the benefits of starting early is that you get great views of the night lights of Tucson and you get to see the sunrise over Redington Pass. If I started any earlier I would of had to bring a flashlight to check the trail for snakes, as it was there was enough light to see the trail, kind of. Made it to Sweetwater Saddle and the King Canyon Trail in just a little over an hour. Continued on up to Wasson Peak. The King Canyon Trail to Wasson Peak is fairly steep but with a steady pace it wasn't difficult. There are a couple of abandon mines along the trail on the way up to the Hugh Norris Trail and took a little time to check them out. They are fenced off but still worth the stop. The Views from Wasson peak (and the ridge before Wasson Peak) are awesome, good view of all of Saguaro National Park. Stayed a short time on the peak but not too long because I wanted to get done with this hike before it got too hot. From Wasson Peak I took the Hugh Norris Trail to the Sendero Esperanza Trail. The Hugh Norris Trail is in really good condition and the lower parts from Amole Peak west are like a freeway, 3 mph down hill is easy to do. From this trail there are some good views of the Mile Wide Mine and saguaro National Park north (Though not as good as from Wasson Peak). Took the Sendero esperanza Trail back to the King Canyon Trail. This Trail follows what looks like an old road, probably leading to various abandon mines, one of which is the Gould Mine. This was one of the larger and more profitable mines that were in the Tucson Mountains. Once on the King Canyon Trail I took this back up to the Sweetwater Trail. From the King Canyon Trail junction there is a 600 foot climb back up to Sweetwater Saddle. By 0930 it was definitely getting a little warm for this portion of the hike and I opted to take a break at the saddle to cool down, Luckily there was a slight breeze. Made it back down to the start point in just a little over an hour, thanks to the fact that the Sweetwater Trail is in pretty good condition. This would be a fun hike to do maybe an hour earlier to be on Wasson Peak at Sunrise or start on the King Canyon Trail and allow about an hour to get to Wasson Peak.

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Sep 07 2014

imike

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

Ortega Canyon South

Southeast, NM

Ortega Canyon South

Southeast, NM

Canyoneering		Sep 07 2014
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Canyoneering	8.40 Miles	2,750 AEG

Canyoneering	8.40 Miles
	2,750 ft AEG

Canyon Hiking - Non-technical; no rope; easy scrambling; occasional hand use

A - Dry or little water; shallow or avoidable water; no wet/dry suit

no routes

Linked

linked

Ortega Ridge

Ortega South - Jim's Cut

A Canyon South - Terri's Cut

A Ridges North

A Trail #119

Partners

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no partners

no one signed up for this first of series canyon traversing hikes, so I diverted a couple hours over to re-routing and improving the traversing sections... the really nice augment: connected the section from Ortega South, middle above the lower dryfall, to Jim's Cut.. and across "A" Ridge North and down into Terri's Cut right above the middle falls where Terri's Traverse connects over from the "A" trail. So... now we have a great route that allows easy access across three canyons and all the connecting ridges.

These "minor" canyons (rising into the 6,000' levels as opposed to 7,000'+ of the major cuts) make for great intermediate level hikes... as does just hiking the big cuts to about that level. Nice to not have to do in/out routes...

It will be interesting to see just how many different connecting lower loops we can develop from all these lower traverses. Terri is back next month; perhaps start a weekly series based on just that?

Light rain... but hopefully it will clear by 3pm for the Beginner's Hike over in the Alamo Canyon drainage.

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Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

Jan 29 2014

imike

Guides 253
Photos 6,930
Triplogs 2,467

75 male

Joined Nov 05 2008
Cloudcroft, NM

A Canyon South - Terri's Cut

Southeast, NM

A Canyon South - Terri's Cut

Southeast, NM

Canyoneering		Jan 29 2014
		imike • Triplogs 2,467

Canyoneering	11.40 Miles	4,650 AEG

Canyoneering	11.40 Miles
	4,650 ft AEG

Basic Canyoneering - Scrambling; easy climbing/downclimbing; frequent hand use; rope recommended; easy exit

A - Dry or little water; shallow or avoidable water; no wet/dry suit

no routes

Linked

linked

A Ridges North

A Trail #119

A Trail - Connections

Partners

partners

tarryon

Terri's Wednesday progressive training hikes are over with for a few months... so today was all about fun. Hiked a bit of laps early, waiting for enough light to allow us a lower entry approach into Terri's Cut... then down hiked to the lip of the big lower falls... then up canyon to the fun play falls for a bit of climbing practice. Froze my hands!

Traversed out... down the "A"... met up with Bill and Paul... then headed down and into "A" Cut to downclimb that lower dryfall. Adrenalin overflow from the earlier climb had me opt for an easier scramble slot to the bottom today. It looks doable but not for today.

Checked out the bottom of Terri's Cut then looped around into "A" Canyon North, the exploratory for today. Okay, but with some many great cuts around here it will be many years before I repeat on it. Fortunately, the surrounding "A" ridges were exceptional... and the top formation, "A" Bluffs offered up some fun cave crawling.

Met a hiker from Dallas who was familiar with the area (he grew up here) and directed him over and up Marble Canyon. He thought it was not climbable... interesting if we ever hear from him again (He's backpacking, camped up on Ortega Peak).

Just a fun play day! I think we may pattern the Wednesday outings along that line, at least until it is time to put Terri back on a progressive pattern to take her up to the 10,000' day for her B'day in August (another fun 90 pattern!)

So... closing out a fairly easy month... trading it for a not so easy February?

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cadastral Survey Marker

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Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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