This was a highly enjoyable 3 day pines to desert to pines hike around the Pusch Ridge Wilderness surrounding Mount Lemmon in Spring 2022, Southern Arizona. There are many places to access this wilderness from, both from above and below. I chose above - coming in from the Sunset Trailhead at about 7800ft elevation.
On Day 1, I descended over 4000ft from tall pines into the cacti covered west fork of Sabino canyon and camped at the beautiful Hutch's Pool, where it was warm enough for me to not even need a jacket!
Day 2 - I ascended back up via the west fork of Sabino Canyon, surrounded by high mountains of exposed granite - much like parts of California's Sierra Nevada range. Eventually I reached Romero Pass with its sweeping views of the wilderness and Tucson - climbing further into the wilderness of rocks where I camped the 2nd night in a striking environment of exposed granite slick rock with Mount Lemmon in the background. This was the highlight of the trip for me.
Day 3 - I continue through the Wilderness of Rocks, which I can only describe as a cross between Canyonlands and the Sierra: a maze of exposed slick granite boulders and spires, with the ever-present Mount Lemmon as the backdrop. Eventually I got up into higher pine forest and followed Marshall Gulch and the Sunset Trail back to the car.
I hope you enjoy, thanks for watching!
Timestamps:
(0:00) Intro
(2:03) Map
(2:49) Day 1 - Box Camp to Sabino Canyon
(22:31) Sabino Canyon to Hutch's Pool
(28:36) Hutch's Pool Overlook
(29:36) Day 2 - West Fork Sabino Canyon to Romero Pass
(40:33) Romero Pass to Wilderness of Rocks
(49:01) 2nd Camp - Wilderness of Rocks
(52:25) Day 3 - Wilderness of Rocks / Marshall Gulch / Sunset Trail
(1:09:20) Conclusion
7 июн 2024
