Patagonia to Bushcamp
25.9 miles
Mile 77.0
I took my time leaving camp this morning. By 7:30 AM I was jamming down the dirt road leading from Patagonia to the next trailhead, Temporal Gulch. There was a trail detour around a closed section of the road which was a real bummer. It was about twice as long as the normal route, and was slow going at times. I also found a bunch of these packs abandoned in the area…kinda weird.
Back on the AZT, I began to climb up towards the Mount Wrightson Wilderness in the Santa Rita range.
When I reached the saddle I headed down into Casa Blanca Canyon before joining the Tunnel Springs Trail.
Lots of deer in this area.
Around 5:30 I reached Kentucky Camp, a late 19th, early 20th century gold mine camp maintained by the Forest Service.
I found two backpackers and a bikepacker hangout out at the camp. Unfortunately, camping is prohibited within the camp gates, so I said hi, filled my water bottles and pushed on to find somewhere to spend the night.
About a mile later I found a decent spot in a parking area along a dirt road. Just as I finished setting up the two hikers I’d met earlier joined me.
Room with a view…
Cheers!
My son, Karl, just ran the ultra marathon around those Santa Rita mountains about two weeks ago. 50+ miles of running the mountains in the snow and cold streams. He began and ended at Kentucky camp. be camping around there is beautiful as we stayed along Gardner Canyon Road. I’m happy to be following your trail adventures again.
Dang, way to go Karl! Running 50 miles is a lot tougher than walking it! Thanks for following Lorna!
Man your killing it! Another trail! Love following your adventures! Makes me want to quit my job and start hiking, But at this point in my life that is not an option till I retire… Until then I will just have to follow along reading your blog. You still with the girl (Paige?) you met on the PCT? Have a great trip and be safe!
Thanks Jeff! Sounds like you’ve got something to look forward to then. Paige and I aren’t together anymore, but are still great friends.
Wow, you’ve started another trail! You move so fast, will you be doing the whole trail or section it to finish where you left off last year? Those packs and clothing abandoned are usually from the drug runners coming up from Mexico to meet their pickup person, sometimes the clothing is also from immigrants crossing the border. Be careful out there.
I’m doing the whole trail! The timing just sorta worked out perfectly.
Very cool! CDT should be amazing too!
Very familiar. I section-hiked Passages 4, 5, where you are, plus 6 and 7 in November. Nice area. Hope to do the whole AZT a year from now.
Enjoy.
I’m really surprised you haven’t done or mentioned a priority to do the AT out east.
Is it on your list of challenges?
It’s in my list…but pretty far down to be honest. East coast hiking just doesn’t peak my interest as much as the wide spaces and open vistas on the west coast. I’ll get over the eventually though!