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| Hiking | 13.40 Miles |
643 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.40 Miles | 3 Hrs 57 Mns | | 3.39 mph |
| 643 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Another day in Tucson, another section of the AZ Trail. Today, I was continuing from where I ended yesterday. Got started around 9am. The wife walked with me down Lakes Road and then a little way in past Twin Tanks. Velva initially said she was going to explore some of the roads in the area while I hiked, but that ended up not being the case. In fact, she became the highlight.  It’s always a joy seeing my wife at the end of a trail and today, thanks to an app. called “Far Out” which allows her to follow my progress on the AZ Trail, she was there to greet me at several of the major road crossings.
Leaving Twin Tanks there were a couple of hills that needed to be negotiated, but the climb was very gradual and the trail found a saddle between the hills so it wasn’t as much as I had envisioned. Passed through a trail gate at 2.10 and this led to some of the best views of the day. You could see the desert and the growing community of Sonoita lying before, and after yesterday, it was blessedly flat.  The trail actually climbs a little bit after passing through the gate and then descends wrapping around to the north. I crossed numerous roads on this passage, most of them were just beaten paths used by off roaders, but I had my first major road crossings (and wifely encounter  ) at 4.38 miles. Not sure of the name but it was a well used route for the homes in the area. Spent a few moments with Velva, each of us relating the events of the last hour…not much, and figured out where our next likely encounter would be: Sahuarita Rd.
This wasn’t that far, only about three miles away. The trail actually swung more to the north than I thought it would, but once I decided to go east it held its direction without too many twists. The terrain was very flat and the trails fairly smooth which made for easy going. Velva had parked at Sahuarita and hiked in to meet me. We crossed Sahuarita at 7.24 and walked in a ways, before separating. Shortly after I went through a culvert (8.01) that got me on the other side of 83. (I’ve looked for the AZ Trail crossing numerous times when I’ve driven 83 and I still am not sure if I would be able to identify it from the road). There was a little bit of climbing as the trail worked its way up a hill to Old Sonoita Highway (9.24)….and my wife. How lucky can I guy get! We hiked together for a time knowing this was the final leg, then she wished me well and sent me on my way. I appreciated her encouragement. After two days of decent hikes I was starting to feel a little gassed. That being said, the last four miles was pretty much all down hill or flat. At 11.76 passed the Equestrian bypass and then right after at 11.8 took a culvert under I-10. There was a short climb out of the wash and then the trail went along the edge of a Davidson Canyon. The trail gradually descends and starts to turn north toward Gabe Zimmerman TH. I was once again met by an angelic vision saying they end was near  Shortly after, we arrived at the TH.
I was feeling spent, after 2 days and 28 miles. My wife however, was feeling pretty spry and wanted to continue down the canyon and check out the railroad crossing. What happened to my angelic vision? It is seldom that she is ASKING ME to do a trail that I couldn’t refuse. It’s actually a pretty easy walk down to the canyon. There was water, trees and bridges. I’m sure the views were fantastic, but I am sad to say my heart wasn’t in it. We walked up the other side of the canyon, crossed the road and went under the train trellis before turning back. We took the bike bypass back which made it a little shorter. ( Will post these stats separately on passage 8 ).
Great hike, though it was a little longer than I anticipated. The miles started to catch up with me at the end, but this was a perfect trail to do a back to back on. Cool temps, clear skies and windy conditions as the day went on. Only encountered two people on the trail; a dog walker and another hiker doing the AZ in sections. Wife was the story today. I can’t express how lucky I am to have a wife who supports (and when lightning strikes) participates on my obsession. |
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