DWTH Day 1: Santa Catalinas Start

Daily Miles: 9.9, Total Miles: 9.9

The starting point for the AZT connector piece to the Desert Winter Thru-Hike (DWTH) is Romero Pass in the Catalinas near Tucson. Romero Pass is a cool spot along the AZT but not at a trailhead with immediate road access. I opted to get to Romero Pass by starting the hike on the AZT near the tiny community of Summerhaven. I asked Mrs. Haze nicely to get me up there early this morning, a relatively short drive from our home.

On a cool morning with high cloudiness, I bounced between 7,000 – 8,000” elevation for a few miles and joined the Wilderness of Rocks Trail. This eventually dropped me down to Romero Pass and my official DWTH start.

I got a few more miles down the trail and nabbed the last good camping spot before entering Catalina State Park. I’m sharing it with a fellow young hiker, Sonny, who is heading up to Mt Lemmon tomorrow.

I shouldn’t mention this, but I fell pretty hard on a steep downhill section today, covered with loose rock and gravel. I stopped abruptly on a rock outcrop and fell on my knees and forearms. Oh well, at least the bleeding has stopped and nothing is broken. I think I already have a few scars from my other Brett Tucker trails/routes.

I hadn’t done much training since I finished the Arizona Trail last July. My feet and knees were feeling the rocks and downhill so I am happy for an early stop.