Patagonia, AZ, visit & hike

On this bright warm sunny day we went 20 miles SW to Patagonia.  A nice small town on the Arizona Trail (AZT), it’s a place we like to visit almost every time we are here.  Nice shops and restaurants, although we have never eaten at any of them.  We often buy cookies or snacks but eat lunch on their spacious village green.  

After lunch on the green we went up the road to the AZT to hike a small section.  We did this piece 5 years ago but figured that was long enough, we could do it again.  We only went just over a mile, all uphill.  It was hot, in the mid 70s even at 5500’.   Skye was resting in whatever shade she could find.  At least she could find some.  The few short Mesquite trees didn’t offer us any shade!  And it was 3 PM when we turned around anyway.

The green in downtown Patagonia

If we used this criteria for when a trail is too wet we’d have 3 hiking days / year

This fence runs off who knows how far.  We are already a mile from the nearest road.

Just an example of what ranching involves

And imagine driving a fence post into this rocky grazing!