Featured Trip
SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK, AZ
Along the way to our basecamp, we'll passes through vegetation communities
representing four distinct life zones — Lower Sonoran, Upper Sonoran, Transition,
and (if you elect to visit the north slope of Mica Mountain) Canadian.
Manning Camp is a delightful campsite that offers hikers a choice of activities
for the day off — those with energy to burn can visit Mica Mountain, the
highest point in the Rincons,
while less energetic hikers can stretch out in the shade of a tall ponderosa
pine, resting their bones, watching the sun track slowly across the deep
blue sky, and listening to the wind as it sighs in the boughs.
Todd's Desert Hiking Guide says this about the cabin: "Here's the story
on Manning Camp if you're interested:
The Manning cabin was built in 1905 by Levi Manning Surveyor General
of the Arizona Territory and Mayor of Tucson. Levi and his family spent
several summers here raising vegetables and cattle, and escaping the heat
of Tucson. He abandoned the cabin in 1907 when the Rincon Mountains were
added to the Coronado National Forest. In 1933 this area was made part
of Saguaro National Monument which was renamed Saguaro National Park in
1994. The National Park Service uses the cabin for fire and trail crews,
researchers and rangers. The cabin provides an important base for prescribed
burn operations. Pack mules deliver supplies to this remote cabin which
is on the national register of historic places. Looks more like a
nice little resort for government employees, but what do I know."
Join us at Club Med, I mean, Club Manning for a week basecamped out this
this really great cabin (it has running water, showers, and there are tent
platforms on which to pitch your shelter. Our work is trail maintenance
on the trails coming in to Manning Camp, and we have several options for
the day off. The best sunsets in Arizona are viewed right there from Manning
Camp.
The nearest airport is in Tucson, very close to Saguaro National Park.
