Ok. Maybe this is a little too over the top. But we are still puzzled about why the Tucson Mountain Park does not have a trail in its maps for a trail that is clearly within the park and which is well known--the John Krein Trail.
Today we wanted a really flat hike. My hip is still bothering me a bit, and we have already hiked 4 days in a row. So we decided to go back to the Starr Pass/Yetman trail and do it in clockwise order so we could figure out what was going on two days ago when we found ourselves on a clearly marked, difficult hike that was not on the park map.
What we found gives the strong impression that park officials have tried to eliminate this John Krein trail. But can't. This trail was well made at some point, and, given it is the desert, it will remain viable for several years even if no one takes it. In the Pacific Northwest, if a trail is not used for a season, it is disappears because it becomes overgrown.
Not so in the desert.
We found the other side of the Krein trail.
This is clearly a well traveled trail.
180 degrees from here is this:
The trail going the other direction.
AND a sign that has had the middle portion cut out (the rectangular brown).
Did it, long ago, have the name of the John Krein trail on it, and was cut out by the Men In Black? Was Tommie Lee Jones here? Did he use his Neuralyzer on the sign? Is he coming after us next?
We also found the other entrance to the trail, the one we took two days ago.
It is a clear trail, off to Vicky's left.
It is a conspiracy. Where are Skully and Mulder? Who is trying to obliterate all references to the John Krein trail?
Actually, it does seem intentional. But why? It is a good trail. A bit challenging, yes, but not all that difficult and not dangerous unless a person is extremely foolish. It is, in fact, the best trail in the park if one wants a moderately difficult hike (the others in the park would be classified as easy, including Brown Mountain).
And since it clearly exists, the park department would be wise to include it on their map with a description that it involves a high climb along a ridge and is for a somewhat advanced hiker/biker. Otherwise, unsuspecting people, like us, might find themselves on it and perhaps not be in shape for it or have the right equipment (like trekking poles).
I am going to contact the park department, and ask about it. Now I'm curious.
The hike today was an easy 4.9 mile walk in the desert. Very nice, gentle.
Just what we needed on our fifth hiking day in a row.
We feel we have hiked this place out. We come to this realization at times, and, as with everything it seems, feel the same way at the same time. So tomorrow we leave.
It's been a lot of fun here, and someday we will return.
Here is our GPS-generated trail for today and two days ago. Today's trail is marked by the little squares and red arrows. The one two days ago, on the John Krein Trail up on the ridge, is in the gray. If you come to this park, we'd recommend doing both routes. They are lovely.
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