The Arizona Trail, Colossal Cave, Milagrosa Canyon and a Pre-Event

This morning was much cooler than yesterday so I planned to letterbox all day (didn't realize the temperatures were going to get to the 80's) until the Pre-Event which was from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. By 7:30am I was leaving the hotel to begin my day. The letterboxing started in Vail which was about a 20 minute drive from my hotel. My first destination was the Arizona Trail and I was starting at the trail head at the intersection of Sahaurita Road and Hwy 83. I was looking for two boxes on this trail. Before starting my hike I read the clues to see what landmarks I needed. For the first box I needed to get to a small incline and then the trail leveled out and then I needed a weird shaped prickly pear. I had no problem finding the landmarks and no problem finding the box - AZT Wild Things: PP by Desert Flower. I sat and stamped in, replaced the box and then returned to the trail. For the next box I was watching for a knoll and then when I got past that knoll I was looking for a second one. I got a little confused, went too far and had to back track and try again. This time I found the knoll and then the next landmarks were a sotol with a mesquite tree. I found these quickly and then found the box - Angiosperm: Monocot: Yucca elata by Desert Flower. This box is part of her Baja Botany series. After stamping in and replacing the box I headed back to the car. Now on to the next box.

My next location was another Arizona Trail trail head, this one being off of Marsh Station Road near Cienega Creek. The clue for the box gave the directions to the parking area but the actual clue to the box was a map. I followed the map (which turned out to be perfect) and quickly found AZT Wild Things: CC by Desert Flower. I stamped in, replaced the box and then returned to the car. Then I headed to Pistol Hill Road and another trail head for the Arizona Trail. I was looking for AZT Wild Things: PV by Desert Flower, This box only a short way down the trail and I had no issues finding the box. Now I wanted to go to Colossal Cave Mountain Park.

When I first arrived at the park I stopped at the entrance sign that spans the road. My Colossal Cave Logo box is hidden there and recently I received a note that the box was cracked and the logbook wet. So I had a new box to replace it. So I got that done first. Then I drove into the park and headed to the parking area for the cave entrance. Here I found A Big Hole Underground by FamilyTreeShaker. I had to be a sneaky since the box is hidded near the snack and gift shop but in the end I didn't have a problem. I took the box back to my car to stamp in and then walked it back to its hiding spot. From here I drove deeper into the park and entered the La Posta Quemado Ranch area. I parked near the museum and went in search of two boxes. First, I took the Gale Bundrick Trail. Here I found Butterfly Garden by Baqash. Then I headed to the museum and followed the clues to CCC by Baqash. After these two boxes I was going to look for a series of seven boxes on the Arizona Trail but I had trouble locating the trail head. So I decided to leave the park and head back to Tucson. I could get the boxes tomorrow.

My last stop of the day was Milagrosa Canyon. To get to the trail head I had to park on Avenida de Suzenu and then walk up Horsehead Road. Horsehead Road is gated and only residents can drive in - everyone else had to walk. So I walked the .8 miles up Horsehead Road to the trail head and then I started the hike to look for two boxes. Both boxes were on the same trail just a short distance from each other. I found Cometa de Milagrosa by Azroadie and Thallophyta: Lichen: Placidium squamulosum by Desert Flower (another Baja Botany series box). I enjoyed this hike, it was peaceful and beautiful.

When I arrived at my car I checked my FitBit and noted that I had walked and/or hiked 9.25 miles today. I was hot and tired and considered calling it a day. But I wanted to go to the Colossal Tucson Pre-Event at Azroadie and Desert Flower's house. By the time I drove from Milagrosa Canyon to the event it was about 4:30pm. There were quite a few people there and I spent most of my time just visiting. I didn't get any personal travelers or exchanges or any other boxes. They had chicken and pork soft tacos, chips and salsa, fruit and sweet treats. At 6:15pm I decided to head back to the hotel. Once I was back in the room I was barely moving. I was so tired from  the heat, the letterboxing and the walking and hiking. But after a good long shower I felt better. I'm glad that I was able to get this post done but now it is time for some sleep.