SKIT Day 14: Between the Santa Ritas and Rincons

Daily Miles: 20.4, Total Miles: 188.8

Beautiful sunrise from my tent on a small hill. A little cloud cover gave the skies some color as well as cooling the morning a bit.

In the short section to Sahuarita Road, I met two AZT hikers and one group of 20 mountain bikers. There was a bear box full of water jugs at the road crossing which was much appreciated.

With the Rincon Mountains looming larger and larger, I continued on through the creosote scrub to the I-10 underpass. I passed through Davidson Canyon and the most refreshing Cienega Creek which was flowing well.

I didn’t stop at the Quemada Ranch or Colossal Cave Park, opting to stay on the trail and get water at the La Sevilla Picnic Area. It looked abandoned and spooky but the faucet was working.

Up and over a small hill and I was near the base of the Rincons near the Saguaro NP boundary. At a dirt road crossing I saw a sign by the side of the trail, “Magic”, with an arrow pointing to a nearby camp with a trailer and a shade tent. Wow, I hadn’t seen this kind of trail angel since the PCT. The nice gentleman was willing to cook me dinner even if I wasn’t hiking the AZT. I just enjoyed an ice-cold root beer and chatted for awhile.

I set up camp a short distance away with just enough cell service to stream Monday Night Football while eating dinner.