Thursday, March 29
The Rincons

They look like a gentle, softly rounded mountain. But....
The equestrian trail statrs at Turkey Creek TH on the SE side of the mountains. It starts gently up a grass covered ridge (10 mule deer). The rising sun highlights the hills and valleys below us . A trail crew had been camped at the TH, and they had done a good job of clearing brush and cleaning water bars . The grades were good, with switchbacks . Several places had been consrtucted with solid granite steps cut and placed in the tread ! The initial climb topped out at 6900'. Camp had been 4100'.
On top, there were aspens ( nowhere near leafing out), small snowfields, clear little streams crossing the trail. The trail intersections were well marked . Glorious views back south to the Santa Ritas where we were last week . Douglas fir trees say that we are in the Canadian Zone. High point on the trail according to our GPS is 8600'
Down the other side (north). There had obviouly been a fire here in the last year or so . So we didn't have to deal with any brush . But erosion had taken it's toll on the trail; gullyed to a V in many places, and rocks had washed into the trail too . Tricky in some places; glad I was on a mule ! Really glad to get to the bottom and a beautiful clear stream with cottonwoods in their new leaves . Ron saw a mountain lion !! By the time I had turned in the saddle to see it, it was out of sight .
Then the trail gently follows the contours of the land for 3 miles before intersecting the Reddington Pass road where Dick was waiting with the trailer ( a very welcome sight). 10 hours since we had left camp that morning.
We trailered to Catalina State Park (a 2 hour drive across Tucson) so that the mules could be loose in corrals to rest better than being tied to the trailer . Subway sandwiches for dinner .

Friday, March 30
Claire's Cafe in Catalina for breakfast. Lightest, tenderest biscuits ever, according to Ron.

Ron has some unusual, interesting, and funny country music CD's.

Going home. Jesse is riding in the bed of the pickup, eyeballing each car as they go by; the other drivers and passengers are getting a kick out of it .

Jane is asleep on my lap (and on the mound of jackets, shirts, bags, etc.) in the back seat.

Dick's driving.

Headed down the highway toward home, with our dogs, our mules, good memories, and country music.......