AFMerriam's Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Feb 02 2019

AFMerriam

Triplogs 3

67 male

Joined Nov 15 2016
Green Valley AZ

Chinaman Trail Loop, AZ

Hiking		Feb 02 2019
		AFMerriam • Triplogs 3

Hiking	10.00 Miles	1,120 AEG

Hiking	10.00 Miles	7 Hrs		1.67 mph
	1,120 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	12 LBS Pack

no routes

no photosets

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Chinaman Trail #137

Walker Canyon Trail

Gardner Canyon Trail #143

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Temperature when I started out from Tunnel Springs was in the low 50's and overcast. With the wind I really needed a long sleeve shirt and pants. My Whippet wore his jacket on the whole trip. There were a few intermittent sprinkles but nothing that required my rain shell. I finished the hike to Bear Springs fairly quickly so I decided to continue on and make a loop of it.

The hike to Bear Springs along the Chinaman Trail #137 was easy. There is no reason for rest breaks on this trail. Since the trail is part of the Arizona National Trail, it is well maintained. The net elevation gain is very slight, maybe a 100 feet. Bear Springs is well marked. It is about 100 yards after you start uphill, just after a stream crossing.

The extension to the Chinaman trail from Bear Springs to Walker Canyon Trail Junction took some effort but not too much. The elevation gain was 800 - 900 feet over a mile and a half. Once again, trail conditions were excellent.

The Walker Canyon Trail conditions are not so good but still very passable. This is not surprising since I heard it is "closed" since the forest fire came through years ago. Some helpful folks put some trail markers (piled rocks) in some spots. You shouldn't have any problems finding your way. There are some downed trees across the trail and those dammed thorn bushes make life rough on people with short pants. The pines are recovering; in time they will shade the thorn bushes out. The erosion is not bad at all. Parts of this trail are made up of loose rock which is hard on my feet. It is a 500 feet gain of elevation over 2.3 miles.

From there it's all downhill. This portion of the Gardner Canyon #143 trail continues to be rocky. It has a few trees but is definitely a maintained trail. Once you leave the wilderness area, you hit the old trail head which is a fence gate. From there you walk down an overgrowing road which has been closed for quite a while until you hit the new trail head. From there it is a 1 mile walk down FR 785 to Tunnel Springs.

It was a nice trip. I did see signs of bear, coyote, and bobcat. Remember I'm 60 and overweight. If I can do this hike, so can you.

Oh one more thing. Ignore the description on the Coronado Forest sight. It was written before the Arizona Trail and consequently has you scrambling across country.

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Oct 20 2018

AFMerriam

Triplogs 3

67 male

Joined Nov 15 2016
Green Valley AZ

Agua Caliente Trail #140

Tucson, AZ

Agua Caliente Trail #140

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Oct 20 2018
		AFMerriam • Triplogs 3

Hiking	3.40 Miles	2,895 AEG

Hiking	3.40 Miles	7 Hrs		0.49 mph
	2,895 ft AEG		12 LBS Pack

no routes

no photosets

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no linked trail guides

Partners

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It is a hike that has you covered by trees much of the time. IT IS VERY STEEP and it really kicked my butt. It doesn't help that I'm 60 years old and overweight but this is much tougher than many of the trails. I went from the trail head to the saddle and back. I didn't follow the trail completely, sometimes I had to scramble.

I saw only one individual the whole day and that was on the saddle. I saw a couple of deer and LOTS of BEAR SCAT. I think that the bears are the only thing that are keeping the trail from being totally overgrown. I lost the trail twice on the way up and once on the way down. It was difficult to see in several locations. I never did find the trail for one section. I know because the mines were uphill from me and the trail description says it should be downhill.

After my trip a few weeks ago to the Quantrell Mine, I brought along a machete. I was tired of having my legs scratched up. I cleared some of the Mesquite and Agaves off the lower part of the trail but you should still expect to get a few scratches unless you wear long pants. I also picked up a whole lot of foxtails and burrs in my socks. Since it has rained significantly in the last few weeks, there was lots of water flowing in the canyon. There might not be when you go, but there was for me.

The sign at the trailhead says 1.7 miles to the saddle. The guide on this site says 2.3 miles. I'm not certain which is correct.

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Oct 03 2018

AFMerriam

Triplogs 3

67 male

Joined Nov 15 2016
Green Valley AZ

Quantrell Mine Trail

Tucson, AZ

Quantrell Mine Trail

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Oct 03 2018
		AFMerriam • Triplogs 3

Hiking	5.30 Miles	1,217 AEG

Hiking	5.30 Miles	4 Hrs	1.33 mph
	1,217 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

Linked

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no linked trail guides

Partners

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no partners

There are two ways to access this trail according to the USFS description. I accessed the trail through Agua Caliente / Forest Road 183. This trail is significantly overgrown. I wore shorts and scratched up my legs pretty good. Be sure to wear long pants.

I did not see any other hikers.

I saw 2 piles of bear scat and one coyote scat. I saw a lizard, a humming bird, lots of flying beetles, butter flys and some sort of ground squirrel. Since I went one day after significant rain, there were lots and lots of desert flowers.

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1 archive

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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