AZT Day 10: Top of the Rincons

Daily Miles: 15.8, Total Miles: 148.2

I took a few days off to help my wife with a landscaping project. But very inviting views of the Rincons from our house.

I hiked from the Loma Alta TH back to the AZT and Quilter Trail just inside the Saguaro NP East. The Quilter Trail is one of the newly constructed trails on the AZT. This trail shows off some fine examples of the Sonoran desert in early spring. Saguaros, ocotillos leafing out, wildflowers blooming and water in the canyons.

I thought I was in the backcountry but rounded a corner and saw a guy sprawled out on a rock, facing the sun in nothing but a micro g-string. I don’t think he was expecting company.

A bit of a grind with 5,000 feet of elevation gain but the scenery is always changing. I passed through six distinct biotic communities, each at a certain elevation range.

The temperature was changing as well. By the time I reached Manning Camp at 8,000′ elevation, I was ready for the down jacket and gloves. Manning Camp, a backcountry CG with six sites shaded by ponderosa pines, requires reservations but I was the only one there. I took advantage of the fire ring and nearby access to water to have an “oh so rare” campfire!

Hard to sleep with the wind swirling and howling through the trees and over the mountain.