Tucson Area Waterholes & Picacho Peak:

An overnight car camp at Picacho Peak and a short day hike to some great desert waterholes near Tucson in the Santa Catalina mountains.

Leader:  Mr. Caviasca

Saturday March 28th  - Sunday March 29th

Post Trip Update:

The April Sabino Canyon Trip was a huge success. We had 16 scouts and 7 adult leaders attend the session. We also had two folks join just as a a day trip to Sabino Canyon.

The day started with a 90 minute drive to Tucson where we went to Sabino Canyon. We took a 20 minute tram ride into the Canyon which had just recovered for a huge flash flood 7 years ago. The Canyon is restored and very beautiful with several micro- climates inside of it. Exiting the tram we were dropped off at the base of the mountain where we started our 8 mile round trip day hike. The temperature was about 80F. The hike had a good switch back climb for 2 miles and leveled out as we crossed streams to get to Hutch's Pool. We also discovered a good flat clearing 0.5 mile before Hutch's pool which would make a good back pack site for 20 right by a water source. The Hutch's pool was full of water with a 15' waterfall at one end and a Sandy Beach at the other. We had 85% of the Troop brave a quick dip or cross pool race. The water was 48F so it was cold as its source is from snow on Mount Lemon. After several hours of enjoying the pool and lunch with virtually the pool all to ourselves, we hiked out of the Canyon and headed back out to Picacho campsite.

We had a chili contest where each patrol group won the most fitting label of gourmet, most creative, and best tasting. The boys cooked enough for all campers including the adults. This followed with a camp fire, smores, and guitar playing at the fire. Sleeping was nice with about a 50F low temperature. Everyone brought out there big tents and cooking gear for the car camp. We had a huge tent called the Purple Palace and another big tan one the Taj Mahal.

The next day 12 of us went for indoor Skydiving and while the remainder did a 3.5 mile morning hike. The Sky Dive event in Eloy was a huge success and it was just as much fun watching someone do it as doing it yourself. Even the grow adults flew 8-10 feet above ground. Fantastic Fun!! It was a huge verticle tunnel with 4 power fans that suck in the outside air and shoot it out the top. You soar after a full instruction class, put on full suits and helmets, and enter the tunnel with an instructor giving hand sides to control your newly learning fly skills. We also got to see a professional sky dive team in the tunnel doing formation tricks and about 10 parachute jumpers come in on the air field at the real deal sky dive across the property. The two scout crews meet up for lunch and we returned back to the home after a good weekend of exercise, friends, and adventure. We had no real issues or injuries on the event so fun was had by all.

Mr. Caviasca

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We will first drive down and hike in approx 3 miles to visit the waterholes near Sabino Canyon in Tucson and will stay until mid-afternoon. We'll eat a packed trail lunch while there.

Then we will head back towards  Phoenix stopping at Picacho Peak to camp at the Group site there. There will be a troop chili cook-off on the Saturday night - bring your best... and all the fixin's...

After breakfast Sunday we have 3 options: Spend some leisurely time at camp... a brisk hike up Picacho Peak or a drive to the nearby 'Skydive Arizona' for indoor Skydiving - reservations will be required for this.

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