Five intrepid hikers, Tom S., Tom J., Kim, Warren (guest), and leader Bud Tasch hiked the Hope Camp/Quilter Trail in Saguaro National Park East on Thursday, March 11, 2021.

We started with beautiful weather at the Loma Alta Trailhead, and hiked 2.3 miles on an abandoned old road, past an old line camp, 2.3 miles to a junction with the Quilter Trail.

The Quilter Trail was constructed in 2009 as one of the final links of the Arizona Trail. It was named for 26-year-old Jake Quilter, a National Park trail crew worker who died from an undiagnosed congenital heart condition while doing trail work on the nearby Manning Camp Trail.

We passed through some impressive McDougal cactus, oversized relatives of the fishhook cactus, and vast healthy “candelabra” saguaros. Then we topped out at about 4500' at an overlook, before the trail drops down to the Manning Camp Trail on the way to up Cow Head Saddle.

There were impressive views of Rincon Peak, 8482', and Mica Mountain, 8666', the highest peak in the park.

The round trip mileage was 12.6, with an accumulated elevation gain of 2200'.

Thanks to Kim Lewis and Tom Simonick for the photos.