romero pass

The Full #5 – 9/14/2017

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
Looking down on the West Fork of Sabino Canyon with Rattlesnake Peak above and Thimble and Rincon Peaks in the background. September 2017.
Looking down on the West Fork of Sabino Canyon with Rattlesnake Peak above and Thimble and Rincon Peaks in the background. September 2017.
Down, down, down… Doing an out-and-back on the Mt. Lemmon Trail, the #5, doesn’t have the same allure to most hikers as the many loops at the top of the mountain – but it has different benefits… Not long after passing the junction with the Wilderness of Rock Trail the #5 takes on a slightly different character – far from obscure, but narrower and distinctly less used. Sections of the trail remind me of the upper CDO, somehow more wild than the well trodden loops at the top. As you wind down the mountain the interior of the Santa Catalina Mountains comes into view. Admittedly the end of the #5 at Romero Pass is, I think, a bit of an anti-climax – the best views are on the trail above, but at least the pass is usually peaceful, a nice place for break before the long climb back up…
Oak Galls at Romero Pass. September 2017.
Oak Galls at Romero Pass. September 2017.
Near the junction of the Wilderness of Rock and Mt. Lemmon Trails. September 2017.
Near the junction of the Wilderness of Rock and Mt. Lemmon Trails. September 2017.
Fallen across the trail. September 2017.
Fallen across the trail. September 2017.
A Jerusalem Cricket on the Mt. Lemmon Trail. September 2017.
A Jerusalem Cricket on the Mt. Lemmon Trail. September 2017.

Romero Canyon Trail to Romero Pass – 3/22/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

Up the Romero Canyon Trail from Catalina State Park – flowers and pools, steep climbs, stops at the two big fire rings and good memories of past hikes with friends.

1503 Pools in Romero Canyon
Pools in Romero Canyon – above Romero Pools. March 2015.
1503 Scoured Canyon
Following the cairns along a section of washed out trail in Romero Canyon. March 2015.

From Romero Pass I wandered off-trail to random points and points where Bighorn Sheep have stood, slowly collecting vegetation data as a volunteer for a AZGF research project.

1503 Sunset from the Mount Lemmon Trail near Romero Pass
Sunset from the Mount Lemmon Trail, a few minutes above Romero Pass. March 2015.
1503 Looking down from near Romero Pass - Night
Looking down into town from near Romero Pass. March 2015.

The sliver moon disappeared early in the night, with temperatures were the 30s I spent most of my time in my quilt, reading, watching the clouds, looking at the stars and occasionally taking a picture.

1503 Indian Paintbrush
Indian Paintbrush along the Romero Canyon Trail. March 2015.
1503 Poppy 1
A poppy on the Romero Canyon Trail. March 2015.

It was warm on the way down, as the trail went lower I hurried thru the sun back to the car. 20 miles, +/-6000′ of elevation gain and loss.

Wilderness of Rocks and Mount Lemmon Trail – 2/19/2015

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles
1502 Looking down to Romero Pass
Looking down on Romero Pass from the Mount Lemmon Trail – Table Mountain in the background. February 2015.

I recently volunteered to help a with a AZGF Bighorn Sheep research project and have a number of points in the Romero Pass area to visit – today was my first time out, I was slow collecting the vegetation survey information but did manage to get a few points done – and it was a great reason to visit this area! Wilderness of Rocks and then Mount Lemmon Trail towards Romero Pass – 15.9 miles, +/- 3800′.

1502 Lotus above Romero Pass
A Lotus above Romero Pass on the Mount Lemmon Trail. February 2014.

Romero Pass, Romero Canyon Trail – 2014/4/5

Updated - Posted - Charles Miles

1404 Arriving at Romero Pass

Arriving at Romero Pass took about 2 hours and 40 minutes of hard effort on the Romero Canyon Trail – it only took another 3 or 4 minutes for my friend Richard to appear on the West Fork trail. This was our meeting spot for today – he started at Molino Basin and was about 13 miles into an east/west crossing of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

The pass was too windy/chilly to be a nice spot for a break – so after refilling bottles we headed down – eventually taking a break along the canyon – green plants and flowing water!

1404 A break in Romero Canyon

Alison was also hiking up from Catalina State Park – her small blue figure was hard to spot against the huge walls of the canyon!

1404 Alison and Romero Canyon

Down, down, down the canyon – beautiful sections of canyon abound above Romero Pools –

1404 Alison and Richard Running Down

we had all seen other people during the day but until Romero Pools we didn’t see anyone on the descent, after Romero Pools there were quite a few groups headed down – a lovely day to enjoy the trail!

flickr – 2014 April Romero Canyon Trail