My SKIT hike took me 488 miles in a giant corkscrew route over and across 10 separate and distinct Sky Islands in SE Arizona. I broke it up into two halves, one fall and one early spring hike. The fall first half started in the Dragoons, turned south up the San Pedro River and joined the AZT at the top of the Huachuca Mountains. I enjoyed revisiting one of my favorite hikes for the next 150 miles through the Santa…
Daily Miles: 19.0, Total Miles: 487.5 The decision of the day was to get back on the SKIT at Onion Saddle or continue down FR42 all the way to Portal. I chose to head down to Portal, missing about seven miles of trail and the climb to Silver Peak. Headed straight to the Portal Lodge and Cafe for an add-day breakfast. Might have to come back later for the peach cobbler. This decision meant that Mrs. Haze could pick me…
Daily Miles: 12.4, Total Miles: 468.5 Today was excruciatingly slow progress with bushwhacking up the rest of Wood Canyon Park dodging tree overhangs, downfall, cat claw, yuccas and pointy agave. Then down into Indian Creek, the upper part of the canyon choked with flood debris, no really good route, just finding the path of least resistance and pain. I found water pools in a narrows section, fortunately more difficult for the cattle to reach. The lower part of Indian Creek…
Daily Miles: 14.7, Total Miles: 441.4 An unusually quiet night, except for one hooting owl. I was up early and cut across to the Mulkins Ranch Road on a gas pipeline service road. Initially making good time heading into Emigrant Canyon and the Chiricahua Mountains. Got water at a large cattle trough and continued up the canyon on a 4WD road, then just following the wash. Some parts of the canyon had flowing water, usually fouled by cattle. I entered…
Daily Miles: 14.7, Total Miles: 441.4 Got an early start knowing it was going to be a cross-country scramble. Up and out of several washes on the hottest hiking day so far, probably close to 90 degrees. I reached the Dos Cabezas Wilderness boundary and continued a steep climb up Cement Canyon to Happy Canyon to Tar Box Canyon. Rough, rough country, no trail, and slow, slow progress. I wanted to get water at Bob Lee Spring but it was…
Daily Miles: 15.7, Total Miles: 426.7 Easter morning is probably not the best time to hitch back to the trail. That’s just the way it worked out. After an hour wait on the on-ramp with very sparse traffic, a gentleman picked me up and took me 15 miles to the I-10 Bowie/Luzena Interchange. I headed down the freeway frontage road that eventually turned into Page Ranch Road. After several miles, I turned south straight into the Dos Cabezas Mountains. I…
Daily Miles: 0, Total Miles: 411.0 A lazy, hazy day in Willcox, haze coming from a wildfire in the Dragoons west of here. That’s where I started the first half of the SKIT last fall. I did some planning on the last leg and week of this hike through the Dos Cabezas and Chiricahua Mountains. Rough, wild and beautiful country. Other than that, catching up with family, news, and reading a book, Cloud Cuckoo Land. My only exercise was walking…
Daily Miles: 17.8, Total Miles: 411.0 Just me, a few deer and lots of cows today through Willow Springs Canyon. I crossed into Dial Canyon and following the sandy wash all the way to Hwy 191. On a much warmer day, I road walked the highway for five miles to the interchange with I-10. Pulled out my Willcox sign in front of the freeway entry ramp and the first vehicle picked me up. A really nice teacher from Safford took…
Daily Miles: 15.9, Total Miles: 393.2 A truck pulled into my roadside campsite last night and parked, ildling, with the headlights shining into my tent. After about ten minutes, I figured enough was enough and started to get out of the tent. Whoever it was flashed his high beams, backed up and drove away. Cold, cold night but at least the wind finally settled down. I stayed warm and comfy in my new EE quilt but awoke to a slushy…
Daily Miles: 21.5, Total Miles: 377.3 What better way to start the day than a summit bid? Buffeted by cold winds all day, I climbed another 2,000 ft passing Clark Peak. With expansive views, I then joined the Swift Trail, a dirt road at this point. I bypassed Riggs Lake and got water at a roadside waterfall. I met a road crew fixing up the road which will be opened to the public this weekend. The Swift Trail stayed close…
