The Arizona Trail along Davidson Canyon and Cienega Creek

I wish I had had more time to explore this area.  I drove to Tuscon to drop off aluminum cans (@.40 USD x 57 lbs).  That filled up the entire back end of the Honda, and Zeke had to contend with the passenger seat.  I didn't get to the Gabe Zimmerman trailhead until 3:50pm with temperatures at 89F.

.

Gabe Zimmerman was an aide for Rep Gabrielle Giffords when he and Giffords were shot by Jared Lee Louchner on January 8, 2011.  Giffords survived, but Gabe and five others did not.  Gabe was a Tucson native who loved the mountains and who loved hiking and mountain biking.  The trailhead was renamed in his memory.

I started out hiking south on the Arizona Trail (AZT).  The trail here stays high on the bluff and never dips into Davidson Canyon.  The flora is ocotillo, creosote and sage.  The terrain is gently-rolling hillsides.  This part is best done on a cool, overcast day as it is totally exposed.  The Santa Ritas are on the horizon.

At the 1.6-mile mark the trail passes through a tunnel under I-10. The tunnel is painted to represent a snake's open mouth. I rested here to allow Zeke to drink water that was still in a small depression by the tunnel, left-over rain from TD Lorena.  I walked .4 miles farther south before turning around when I had hit the 2-mile mark.  I noticed that on this side of the interstate, ocotillo have given way to agave, century plants and yuccas

I turned around and walked back the way I came.  There was no other access to the canyon floor except near the trailhead.  I could see two trains coming in different directions cross near the Three Bridges intersection. I got back to the creek after 5pm and intended to hike another mile, but knew I was now losing daylight.

The trail crosses the creek  at .4-mile north of the trailhead.  The creekbed here is sandy and dry. I met the only other hiker here as I was descending into the canyon and he was ascending.  On a hot day the narrow canyon here and the mature willows and cottonwoods would provide much-needed shade.  Saguaros on the bluffs appear for the first time for people hiking north on the AZT.

At the .2-mile walking north, the AZT continues east on a tributary canyon, and even more narrow and even shadier creek.  I didn't see any markers, though, and continued walking north.  It was near the Three Bridges mark that I realized I was no longer on the AZT and returned south, but not before noting the ugly graffiti on the rocks off the creekbed.

Water started showing itself and it looked like more was farther north, but I had to get back before it got too dark and I was out of battery juice for my phone.  On my way back I detoured on the Bicycle Bypass trail, which took me to the Three Bridges overlook.  The vehicle bridge over the canyon on East Marsh Station Road, was built in 1921.

I made it to the Three Bridges overlook with minutes to spare before sunset.  I had to use the night filter on the phone, and then use the native software to open up the exposure.  A train rumbled by as I took a sunset picture.  A Mexican family was wrapping up its picnic gear in the dark as I turned around and headed for the parking lot.  I got back to the Honda at 6:30pm and it was dark. I enjoyed the creek section of this very much.

I took East Marsh Station Road east toward I-10.  This road was the old State Highway 80.   It's narrow and winding The surface is in bad shape and needs resurfacing.  I almost hit a Great Horned Owl that was in the middle of the road.  I turned around to see if it was OK, but it had flown off.  The road meanders for almost ten miles before it merges again with the interstate.

I don't like driving fast at night. I was driving 60mph at 7:15pm in the right lane when at the 299  mile marker I saw a white car that had crashed and hit the guard rail.  Glass was in the road, and the car was hanging down off the guard rail.   Just past the dangling car were two semis parked in the shoulder, along with a pick-up truck.  Men were walking toward the car. The accident must have just happened since there were no police or ambulance to warn drivers.  (I saw two flashing vehicles coming from the westbound lanes moments later)

I need to come back and explore more of Cienega Creek in daylight.  Dogs are allowed in the preserve, but to hike in the preserve, I must apply online for the free permit and give Pima County two business days to respond.  I walked the area today to see if the area is suitable for a hike to lead on MeetUp.  There are no designated trails in the preserve, just social trails, but it looks like I could easily walk five miles in the creekbed.  I hiked 6.68 miles today.