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10 triplogs
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Mar 20 2007
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Hunter Trail - Picacho PeakTucson, AZ
Hunter Trail - Picacho Peak
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 20 2007
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking 1,374 AEG
Hiking
1,374 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
That skree about 2/3 of a mile in on Hunter is a bit sketchy, but the hike is gorgeous. I felt like the cables were easier to handle without the gloves left at the saddle.

I hiked in on Hunter and then out via Sunset Vista since the sun set and we didn't want to risk the loose rocks and such downhill (this left about another 3 miles of road marching back to the car for a total of about 8 miles round trip, but it was absolutely gorgeous at night and the ease of the sunset vista trail made talking much easier). What a beautiful loop!
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Mar 13 2007
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Kimball via Pima Canyon TrailTucson, AZ
Mount Kimball via Pima Canyon Trail
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 13 2007
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking14.20 Miles 4,355 AEG
Hiking14.20 Miles
4,355 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Fun and fairly light, as ever, but made tougher by the weight of our packs.

If you want to do a quickie leisurely backpack, get dropped off at the trailhead on day one and hike to the dams. Leave your things with camp at the dam (there's one great spot to set camp); head up sans pack to mount kimball on day two for a nice day hike. Day three, back out.

Trail is clear, and no sight of the gila monster that used to hang out near the large midway boulder, either.
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Jul 23 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Lemmon / Lemmon Rock LoopTucson, AZ
Mount Lemmon / Lemmon Rock Loop
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 23 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking8.60 Miles 2,100 AEG
Hiking8.60 Miles   8 Hrs      1.08 mph
2,100 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
The altitude messed with us a bit, but it was beautiful!

The earlier ranger suggested that the trail was too messy to navigate, but she was absolutely mistaken-- it was wonderful. Gruelling for me, but wonderful. Check out billyj's pics once he posts them!

The ranger who actually lives out at the top is the NICEST guy (his name is Glenn).

We hiked this loop backwards (starting with the L.O. trail and coming back up MTL)-- I wouldn't recommend doing it this way at this time of year; it got a bit hot around 230, in spite of the elevation.
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Jun 22 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Kimball via Pima Canyon TrailTucson, AZ
Mount Kimball via Pima Canyon Trail
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 22 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking5.00 Miles 4,355 AEG
Hiking5.00 Miles   2 Hrs   30 Mns   2.00 mph
4,355 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
we only hiked part of the trail because a member of our hiking group was getting tired, but it was an easy hike for the rest of us.

the sun set threw some beautiful colors on the mountains. the canyon was nice and rocky, but the trail was pretty easy to hike (and to follow), with a few nice chances to climb up rock faces without any gear and get to a sort of mini summit you can survey part of your past path from. some riparian trees would provide shade for this hike during the day, but i certainly wouldn't hike it this time of year during the day-- it would be sweltering. besides, the view of the city on the way out was pretty lovely...
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Jun 17 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Aspen / Marshall LoopTucson, AZ
Aspen / Marshall Loop
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 17 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking3.70 Miles 600 AEG
Hiking3.70 Miles
600 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Access is after the main chunk of Summerhaven.

Definitely affected in some parts by the '03 Aspen Fire, but a beautiful hike nonetheless (especially in the unscorched areas).

Old tree growth, including a few that fell across the trail, and wildflowers. At one point about half way to the major trail junction with Wilderness of Rocks Trail and Marshall Gulch Trail it is easy to lose the Aspen trail. It is also easy, however, to go off trail to a neighboring summit and sliding down that way to refind the trail.

Not a stroll... But certainly not a slaughterer, either.

If you do this trail, it would be a shame to skip following it down to the Wilderness of Rocks... Or at least part way to it :wink:
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Jun 17 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Wilderness of Rocks Trail #44Tucson, AZ
Wilderness of Rocks Trail #44
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 17 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking10.00 Miles 1,645 AEG
Hiking10.00 Miles
1,645 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Followed the stream, not the trail (too confusing for lil ol me!); following the stream down was refreshing and beautiful. Lots of flowers that will all be bursting in a week or two, and plenty of boulders to climb up and survey the view from.

Great private spot; we didn't see anyone else there (we started the hike in the morning and were back down via Aspen Loop at about noon).
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May 28 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Romero Canyon PoolsTucson, AZ
Romero Canyon Pools
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar May 28 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking5.60 Miles 980 AEG
Hiking5.60 Miles   2 Hrs   40 Mns   2.10 mph
980 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I've hiked this trail many times (and by many I mean easily a dozen) just up to the Pools in the past year; it was one of my favorites, especially as a night hike. You can slip (or jump!) into a pool and watch the stars almost entirely free of city lights interfering. The serenity was profound and exploring of the area was invigorating; a small sand cropping behind a rock off to the left when you first arrive was perfect for a bit of yoga if you felt like busting out a sun salutation. This was the hike that made me fall in love with the Catalinas and, to be honest, with hiking.

So why am I using the past tense here?

The pools were ravaged by the recent Romero Fire. They are at about half the depth I've ever seen them at (and I've seen them at all times of year), and the water is sludgy and black with soot. A few small canyon tree frogs were trying to find their way to some clean water (there were three on the only rock I bothered to breath in the ash from up there; I'd never seen any on that particular rock before, and even when I had seen them there had always been fewer in one spot). One seemed to still have his tadpole tail (but I don't know how accurate that way of expressing it is). The smell was pretty gross, but that might be gone before the Pools are back. The return hike was dampened by my realization that the Pools wouldn't be up to their best again at the very least until after monsoons this year (probably later) and all the ash that still lingered in the air.

It's depressing to see the Pools now, especially having known their pre-fire glory and having made so many memories there, but maybe if we wait a while it will return to what it once was.

When it IS back in shape, I highly recommend Romero Pools for a quickish outting. But wait until you can be sure it will show you its best face again.
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May 11 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
West Fork Oak Creek Trail #108Sedona, AZ
West Fork Oak Creek Trail #108
Sedona, AZ
Hiking avatar May 11 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking4.00 Miles 200 AEG
Hiking4.00 Miles
200 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Absolutely beautiful! Water everywhere, plenty of woods, and the canyon is gorgeous.

An amazing view if you climb off trail for a few minutes (well worth the effort).

Lots of tent moths, too, which I found fascinating, having never seen them before...

Water shoes definitely came in handy.
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Apr 16 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Garnet Trail #411Tucson, AZ
Garnet Trail #411
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 16 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking5.20 Miles 2,000 AEG
Hiking5.20 Miles
2,000 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I'll admit that I got a bit bored by the beginning mile or so of this trail, so I took off and explored the neighboring wash for a while. It's a lot of fun to boulder hop in this area, and I've never had to deal with too many other people on the trail.

As mentioned by others, it's an accessible taste of the Catalinas... But also not the *best* of the Catalinas. A great way to play it safe, but who wants that to be the end of it?

Bottom line: it's a time saver.
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Mar 25 2006
avatar

 Photos 16
 Triplogs 10

37 female
 Joined Apr 30 2006
 Tucson, AZ
Mount Kimball via Finger RockTucson, AZ
Mount Kimball via Finger Rock
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 25 2006
softrubysoho • Triplogs 10
Hiking10.00 Miles 4,200 AEG
Hiking10.00 Miles   8 Hrs      1.25 mph
4,200 ft AEG
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
A pretty brutal ascent with a pretty brilliant view.

There was still some snow under some trees near the real summit.

The trail is a bit tricky at one point. You'll hit a point where you feel like you've dead ended (and you think "well, the view's nice, but not like everyone said!"). Turn back and VERY shortly to the left you'll go up a small leg of pretty poorly defined trail that will lead you to a little soiled scramble. Then you've got a bit more hiking to do (my legs were jelly at that point, but I was pretty out of shape-- trekking poles would have helped). There is a log in a small clearing to the left of the trail on the way up to the summit (only a few moments from the top) that I highly recommend reclining in!

A friend of mine had hiked it the week before and seen a coati trundling around near the top!

Bring lots of water, and I'd bring some extra munchies. I was at this one for a good chunk of the day, particularly since I spent a lot of time at the summit and a few convenient rocky lookcout points along the way that provided some nice shade for rest stops.
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average hiking speed 1.61 mph

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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