Catalina Mts: Sabino Canyon to Cardiac Gap

**** RSVPS OPEN on Tuesday, January 21st at 7PM
• Mileage: 6.5 (+-) miles total
• Total elevation gain 2000' (+-)
• Duration: 5-6 hours
*Rating: C - Intermediate +
(See "What we're about" at https://www.meetup.com/Hiking-Tucson/)
**RESTRICTIONS: No guests, dogs, firearms or tobacco
• Cell phones SILENT during hike

PLEASE READ THIS:
Sabino Canyon Recreation Area (SCRA) is a Coronado National Forest FEE AREA and it is now $8.00 per day.
Read this about fees and passes:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/coronado/passes-permits/recreation

We will meet at the overflow parking area which is about .50 miles PAST the Main Entrance of SCRA. The overflow parking access road is on the right.
Location map for access road: www.tinyurl.com/ygdagy6n
Parking Lot location: www.tinyurl.com/t67dggn

GPS and other info is here: www.tinyurl.com/wvcbo2u
Google map of the hiking route: www.tinyurl.com/ygqnjyyn

Summary:
From the overflow parking area will take a somewhat steep, rocky trail along a ridge until we reach the Esperero Trail (ET).
We will follow the ET to Cardiac Gap, take a 20-30 minute break and then hike back town the ET to the "Gold Mine" (GMT) trail and follow the GMT back to the overflow parking area.
This last section will provide an opportunity to see both vertical and horizontal entrances to 2 gold mines.

This hike starts at the transition of upper Sabino canyon bajada and the beginning of the foothills. This means we will start to gain elevation within minutes of starting our hike.
The start is a short, flat open section of trail which then takes us to more rugged and rocky terrain via a cliff flanked "gateway" which takes us through a tight, steep walled gulch.
We will be in this scenic gulch for only a few hundred feet before climbing a short, steep section up and out to more open, flat trail.
We will be on this section of trail for only a few hundred feet before we take a trail on the left.
Note: The "gate way" trail or "Gold Mine" trail as I have now started calling it and the left fork we will now be on are unofficial trails and not on most maps.
The left fork follows a somewhat steep and open ridge line across some rocky balds. From here will have great views of the Tucson and Santa Rita mountains, Rattle Snake Canyon looking down into Sabino Canyon and across to Blackett's Ridge and Thimble Peak.

This first section of the ET is a moderate grade until you cross Bird Canyon where it then gradually becomes much steeper.
From here the fun begins as the trail climbs steeply with some up and downs until we reach Cardiac Gap.
As you might expect, the views are stellar to the south and east and we will get a good look down into Esperero Canyon and up into the Geronimo Meadows area.

We will hike back down the ET, by-passing the connector trail we first hiked and continue down to the eastern terminus of the GMT. This section of the ET is steep and tight then mellows out as we approach the GMT.
About 500' feet into the GMT we reach the mine entrances, have a look around and then follow the GMT back the cut off trail to the ET, down into the gulch, through the gateway and then back to civilization.

----- Sabino Canyon Gold Mining History -----
Col. Charles P. Sykes and a small group of associates staked claims to five gold mines near the mouth of Rattlesnake Canyon in 1892. By 1897, the group had formed the Sabino Gold Mining Company and had expanded its holdings to ten mines. The mines never panned out but the short tunnels dug into the canyon walls by this group can still be seen today.
More: www.tinyurl.com/shmjcgs

RSVP etiquette:
• Sign up only if you really intend to come
• If you need to cancel, do so BEFORE the deadline so someone can get your spot
• If you change your mind take yourself off the Going or Wait list
• Please don't be a no-show

Be sure to bring adequate water, food, trekking poles, etc.
As always - Hike at Your Own Risk

Questions?
Email me: www.tinyurl.com/y3pz2gs9
Cell: 304.290.8066
WV-Mike