Tim, our lead Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalist guide went over the safety rules for the day’s hike.
A short distance into hiking the Box Camp Trail, we stop to take in one of the many views.
The trail leads us through ferns and tall pines.
This section of the trail is a rolling downhill path continuing through the tall trees.
As the trail continues down the mountainside the pine forest opens to a thick oak growth.
The trail becomes steeper and difficult to follow through the thick overgrowth.
Looking down over the oak overgrowth you can see Sabino Canyon and Thimble Peak.
The Box Canyon Trail leads down to East Fork Trail, which runs into Sabino Canyon Trail.
However, this rock lookout is where we had planned to rest
and have a sneak before starting the hike 2.5
miles back up the mountain, which has an elevation change of 1,200 feet.
Before starting back we realized our tail-guide, Jeff, was not with us.
Long story short, he had taken a wrong turn in the area where the trail had a lot of over growth.
We started back using the radios to communicate with Jeff, which were spotty at best.
Even though having hiked the trail many times, the climb back to the trailhead was a real challenge.
I had to really slow my pace with only Sharon behind me
having taken over for the trail-guide task for Jeff.
We soon caught up with the lead group, only because Tim,
our lead-guide was also having some issues,
so Ellen took over as lead. After resting and with the help of GU energy gel
Tim and I were able to continue on.
(The fact that we happen to be the two oldest hikers on the hike had nothing to do with our struggles.)
Meanwhile, we continued trying to locate Jeff. Before returning back to the trailhead,
with radio contact we were able to determine that Jeff was somewhere back on the trail and okay.
Back at the trailhead we kept waiting and he finally showed up as pictured above.
To say the least, the circumstances made for a very interesting hike. — Images by kenne
Sounds like a beautiful and confusing place for a hike. Do hope the temperature is cooler there than in Ohio, where the heat index was over 100 today. The mountains should be cooler.
I did a good job as the tail-guide. Great hike.