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Mount Wrightson Backpacking Trip 2008
We took a three day hike up Mount Wrightson (9400ft). We camped out on two nights and went to the top on the evening of day two. On the third day, we hiked down. Years ago, we went up and down in one day. Since the trailhead in Madera Canyon is at elevation 5400 feet and the summit of the mountain is at 9400 feet, this is a challenging hike or backpacking trip.
All photos are thumbnails and can be seen larger by clicking.
We stopped by a nice little creek which had a small set of mini-waterfalls
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On the top of Josephine Saddle, there's a monument to some Boy Scouts who perished nearby in a freak September snow storm and cold snap.
A nice view of the summit from 7000 ft at Josephine Saddle. 2400 more feet to go!
We set up camp at Josephine Saddle. There was a nice place to pitch the tent and have a small fire.
We had a bear canister as there are bears on the mountain. And, we saw a lot of bear sign, too. But, we did have to hang up some of our food and sundries that wouldn't fit in the bear canister.
It got dark pretty early. We used some pack covers and set up a tarp in case of monsoon rains.
We left camp on day two and proceeded up the Old Baldy trail toward Baldy Saddle, where we planned to camp.
This year's monsoon season was very active, especially up on the mountain and there was a lot of overgrown vegetation beside the trail.
The view of the trail going up to Baldy Saddle. The trail actually goes through one of the gaps in the cliff escarpment.
Believe it or not but there's a trail in there somewhere!
Water is a logistical issue anywhere in southern Arizona. We had to filter water at the two different springs on the mountain. This time we were high up below Baldy Saddle at Bellow Spring.
We saw lots of "bear sign." This mound of scat was about 20 feet from our campsite on Baldy Saddle. We had seen a bear on the ridge above the camp years before.
We set up camp before proceeding to the top before sunset.
We make it to the top. The low walls are a foundation of an old fire lookout. In the foreground there was hole, probably for the latrine. The 12X12 foot lookout was active until the 50's. The mountains behind are the Santa Catalinas.
Some foot taping was necessary for the long 4000 ft descent back to the trailhead.
Looking east from Baldy Saddle, you can make out Sonoita and Fort Huachuca. The wood nymph is near the trail junction of the Super Trail and the way down to Gardiner Canyon.
We descend back through the slopes covered with wildflowers.
Five miles to go to the trailhead!