DWTH Day 3: Into the Tucson Mountains

Daily Miles: 8.2, Total Miles: 35.1

A rare late start for me because I knew it was going to be a lower mileage day. No camping is allowed in the Sweetwater Preserve or Saguaro NP West. I had my sights set on a site just out of the Preserve on public land. In this case, a desert wash.

I started down Ina Road heading west and soon turned south and then west again into the Sweetwater Preserve. In all my years in Tucson, I had never hiked out here until last week where I hiked in and dropped off some water at my planned campsite.

It was a cool hike today with lots of colorful volcanic rock and plenty of saguaros.

Got to my campsite in the afternoon and set up my tent. I had placed the water bottle behind a thorny thicket above the wash. I found the water bottle several feet away from the thicket. The top of the bottle had been nearly ripped off and no water remained. Probably a thirsty coyote or bobcat. I’ve cached a lot of water and never had this happen. I fortunately had packed enough extra water just in case to get me over the mountains tomorrow to the Visitors Center.

I had a nice dinner, watched a few episodes of Severance and I’m ready for bed!