AZT Day 5: Santa Rita Mountains

Daily Miles: 16.1, Total Miles: 68.9

It was fun to be able to hike the first three miles out of Patagonia with Mrs. Haze and our chocolate lab, Kerbie.

The AZT followed FR72 for 13 miles to the end of the road, about 1,600 ft elevation gain. I saw several whitetail deer along this stretch and was also able to soak my feet in a creek while having lunch at Temporal Gulch.

Great views of Red Mountain and Patagonia to the south and Mt. Wrightson straight ahead. A good mix of pine, juniper and oak trees thickened after leaving the road and hiking to a saddle at 6,600 ft elevation. At that saddle, I found a note from Jeremy, just ahead of me at this point.

About three miles to Bear Spring and I was ready to quit for the day. By far the best campsite with a stream nearby.

Had dinner, popped my blisters and crawled into by sleeping bag – what the life!