Backpacking the Santa Rita Crest

It was a little surreal, hiking in the land of exotic creatures like the jaguar and the elegant trogon. Though we didn't see either one, we have no assurance they weren't watching us the whole time, from deep in the brush or high in a tree, which was kind of thrilling. The Santa Rita Mountains seemed so out of place -- a lush green island in the sky, in the middle of a vast desert -- it was like hiking in another country or even another continent.

The views from Mt. Wrightson were so spectacular, we couldn't resist climbing it twice -- once in the morning and again near sunset. Though we had to endure stiff winds at our mountaintop campsite, the 360-degree views made it all worthwhile.

Cool mountain sanctuaries in the middle of the sweltering desert, the Sky Islands are stepping stones to the tropics, allowing exotic creatures like elegant trogons and even jaguars to visit Arizona. One of these ranges, the Santa Rita Mountains lie just miles from the Mexican border and are one of the stomping grounds of El Jefe, the first jaguar to be seen in the United States in several years.

Depending on water and vehicle availability, we’ll improvise a loop through lovely Florida and Madera Canyons, enjoying ravishing views across the desert into Mexico. Waking up to the chorus of tropical songbirds, we’ll summit Mt. Wrightson on our layover day -- at 9,456’ the tallest point in the Santa Rita Mountains.

This will be a strenuous two-night backpack, covering over 20 miles at high elevation over three days at a purposeful pace over very rugged terrain, so this trip is suitable only for experienced backpackers in good condition. Because of the strenuous nature of this trip, the leader reserves the right to qualify participants. This is a consciously low-impact outing, so carpool participation is encouraged and participants are urged to contribute to their vehicle’s shared mileage, gas and parking costs.

This trip is strictly dependent upon a favorable weather forecast. A National Weather Service forecast of rain within 72 hours of our start will cancel or re-route this trip at the discretion of the leader, as will fewer than three confirmed signups as of 8:00pm, Wednesday, May 15. This trip will be by individual commissary, and we’re not planning any shared meals, so please plan to provide your own supply of food.