Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pass

I have been incredibly busy planning my upcoming Arizona Trail Trek– a thru-hike to promote the trail, our new guidebook, and the Gateway Communities. I’m starting on March 14th and it’s been a challenge to plan all the things that go along with a thru-hike plus all the fundraising events in the communities along the way. Here’s a promotional poster for the hike, I’ll have the website is www.aztrail.org/azttrek. Getting excited to actually get out on the trail!

Arizona Trail Trek poster

Today was one of those days where I just had to turn off my phone and go for a hike. Haven’t been up this trail in a while and figured the hike to the pass would provide a good workout.

Romero Canyon above the Pools

Started around 9:30 and made my way to the pools, lots of blooming fairy duster lining the trail. Only encountered a handful of folks beyond the pools. I forgot how beautiful the trail is above Old Trail Camp, winding through the oaks and junipers and big boulders.

Fairy Duster

Old Trail Camp

Ancient grinding holes near the stream

I took a break at the waterfall campsite, which has a wonderful log seat with a backrest. The weather was perfect for the last climb to the pass.

Comfy seat at the waterfall campsite

The pass was windy, as usual. Great views down the West Fork toward the snowy Rincons. I said hi to the Arizona Trail and cut my break short because I was getting chilly.

View from Romero Pass down the West Fork of Sabino Canyon

Arizona Trail- always a welcome sight!

Micro Chicken and Romero Canyon

As I left the pass, I noticed that Romero Canyon looked like it was getting rain, but up at 6000 ft I got snow flurries! They were short-lived and I made my way back down to the waterfall campsite to lounge for a bit on the log seat.

Sky Island Goodness

This trail is so beautiful, I would really like to do the canyoneering route in Romero Canyon one of these days. I stopped to take pictures of all the different wildflowers I saw- nice variety, hopefully we get more rain soon.

Intriguing pools in the streamcourse

Primrose

Blue Dicks

Desert Rose Mallow

Micro-chicken sized flowers

I reached my car and decided to wait and watch the sunset before leaving. So glad I did, it was a symphony of light and color on the Catalinas as well as to the west.

Sunset lights up Samaniego Ridge

In Wildlife Rehabilitation news, I have not been able to volunteer much lately at Wildlife Rehabilitation Northwest Tucson because I am so busy planning my thru-hike. I miss the birds!! Here’s a picture of a hungry hawk- your donations keep these guys fed and housed! I am going to be taking a short break from fundraising for the Wildlife Rehab and switching my focus to fundraising for the Arizona Trail Association during my Arizona Trail Trek. I’ve got an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign with unique and exciting incentives coming up to raise $20,000 for the Arizona Trail Association starting on March 28th.

Harris Hawk is hungry!