Elevation gain: 1362'
Elevation: 3892 ' - 4885'
Trailhead: North on Mescal Road off I-10 (J 6 Ranch exit; drive ten miles on road. Turn off is on right. Cross creek and find trail. Trail is unmarked)
Significance: water holes, rock formations, isolation
I first did this hike in September 2014 when SteveA led it. My eyes were burning from a grass allergy and we never finished the hike because of me. That was also my first year of experiencing such severe allergies. I have gotten them in August every year since; some years are worse than others.
Today SteveA led it again, the weather was ideal and my eyes didn't burn. There were seven of us on this hike: SteveA, RodC, PaulP, JimA, Carol from Bedford, MA, Iroz from Alaska, and me with Zeke and Sadie.
The Little Rincons are east of the Rincons and north of Benson off I-10. Mescal Road and FR35 divide the ranges. The far eastern section of Saguaro National Park and several trails to the high peaks can be accessed here. These trails are not as busy as the western edge of the park. The prominent rocky outcroppings make this a hike best done in the winter and on cooler, overcast days. The trail begins with a nice ascent, along a high rim of a narrow canyon with seasonal waterfall. There was no water today falling and the pools looked dry.
Today's high was only in the upper 60s, the last day of the coldfront. We met early and started hiking at 7:53am, under some mountain shade. I quickly lost the group when I darted ahead during a stop so that I could pee. When I returned the group was gone and I accidentally took a left turn off the trail. Zeke led me back on the right way, but I scolded him when he kept wanting to run ahead of me. I realized two miles later that he was running toward the group! I decided to hike 3.5 one way and if I didn't find the group again, I'd just leave a note on their truck to let them know I did the hike safely.
The hike out to Hidden Pasture in the shade was ideal, but by 9am it warmed up enough to get both dogs warm. The trail is marked by cairns and can be confusing at times, especially after reaching the lower pools. Catclaw grows prominently here, snagging on pants and shirts, and is harder to follow. I wore my new EMS pants that now have snags everywhere. (Old jeans would have been better for this hike.) I did the best I could to retrace the hike route from 2015, which basically follows the pools up canyon. One can see Mount Wrightson from the higher hills. A lot of the smaller pools had dried up, but there were several smaller ones along the way. Zeke enjoyed paddling in them.
SteveA told us today's route was the farthest he had gone in Happy Valley. The end of the hike is in this high valley, boxed in by several peaks. We found a shady spot near a waterfall and oak tree where the dogs had their round steak and I chatted with Carol and Iroz. Holly would have enjoyed meeting this woman, who moved to Kodiak Island in 1978. She and her friend Carol snowbird in Tuscon seven months out of the year.
I started sneezing while under the oak tree. Rod asked me if I had another allergic reaction. I didn't think I did (it's not that time of year for me), but my sniffles never went away for the duration of the hike. Maybe there is something unique to this area that I am sensitive to.
I ate my clementines in the shade and the dogs had their steaks. Both were exhausted. They were even more tired on the return hike, with warmer temperatures now heating up the rocks around us. Zeke's fur was very warm, and twice I pushed him into deep pools so that he could cool off. He hates getting dropped in the water, but the instant coolness cheers him up.
Rod was also getting warm and we took more shade breaks on the return hike. The hike took us almost seven hours (with breaks). This area would be an absolute delight after a heavy rain. Luckily we didn't encounter any snakes today, but I did take one straight-on fall on the return hike, tripping over a rock and landing on my thighs. I got a nice superficial laceration on my upper left thigh, but no heavy bleeding. My new EMS hiking pants didn't tear, either.
The group split up after the hike. Jim had to get home and Carol and Iroz needed to get back to Tucson. I followed Rod and SteveA up into Happy Valley, but I lost them as well. This was all new terrain for me that I need to explore another time. I turned around when FR35 became more narrow, just before a cattle gate that drivers can unlock. The dogs were getting too excited about the cows along the road, and when a rancher on his horse sauntered on by with his two dogs, my dogs got even more agitated. My phone listed Cascabel as the closest community.
I stopped briefly at Pulla's in Huachuca City, a family-owned taqueria that opened in town a year ago. I really like their food and their chicken burritos are muy sobreso. I picked up a carne asada plate for Kevin, but he was already asleep when I got home at 5:30pm. The house was quiet. Sweetie and Minnie were happy to see me, but I was too tired to go out again for another walk. My thighs were now starting to feel the workout they got today.
Eric texted me later on in the evening, asking me what the name of that huge brewpub off US101 was we stopped in for dinner back in July 2013. We were returning to AZ after a few days in Monterey, CA. That was the Firestone Walker brewpub in Paso Robles (I had to look that up because I failed to mention it in the blog here). He said he really liked that place and wants to go back there on a road trip when he's returned from his deployment next January. I'm glad he liked that road trip, and I'm glad he has some traits from me after all. I got my road tripping love from my father, who never seemed to shy away from getting in his car and driving for miles and miles to explore new places.
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