SKIT: Caution!

Brett Tucker’s routes seem to have a good mix of trail, rough roads and always some element of cross-country travel. Usually wild. usually remote, always a challenge and never without some frustration along the way. I don’t think the SKIT will be an exception. In fact, I have been given some warnings of late.

The SKIT has been a route for close to ten years but lightly travelled with the exception of the AZT portion. Southeastern Arizona, like a lot of western lands, has been severely stressed by wildfires and drought during this time. Most of the Sky Islands have had recent burns. Add to that the flooding and heavy monsoons this past season – the Catalinas alone received over 40 inches. Overgrown conditions, lack of trail maintenance and some trail closures make detours likely.

So I am not expecting big mileage days, even if I could. After all, I just got my Pfizer booster shot because I met the age qualification!

My plan is to start in the Dragoons later in the month and make my way down the San Pedro Valley, across the Huachucas, Santa Ritas and Rincons and maybe start the Catalinas. I then have a family commitment for a few weeks. I will continue on depending on the weather. What I don’t finish this winter, I can pick up in the spring/early summer.