Just finished the section from Mexico to Mt. Lemmon and have nothing but good things to say about the amazing and rugged AZT. It’s like a desert AT hike… lots of climbing! All 1-2 water sources were flowing, plus many more along the way unlisted. No problem getting back to the trail on Highway 83 if you look for Mile Marker 51.3 and enter the Twin Tanks area through the gate with the AZT sticker on it. We missed it and kept walking to the trail crossing up the highway a few miles. Fine, since we got to see Roni in his reflective vest.
Iced cream, snacks and drinks at Colossal Cave Ranch .25 off the trail. Just head up to the ranch building. You can even buy semi-precious stones.
Getting through Saguaro is impossible to do legally if you want a continuous hike. Rangers informed me it is forbidden to walk cross- country below 4,000 ft. and the roads to the boarded-up Madrona Ranger Station and the Manning Camp Trail are closed. Hike the X9 road to the Madrona Station and hope for the best? What would Woody do? I had to hike a wash a bit in between the two main roads until I could see the last private home on the hill with a green roof. The Madrona Station is set back behind that at the very end of the X9 road. The trail up Mica was beautiful and there is still a little snow up there!
The alternate around Mt. Lemmon had some blowdowns, but was great. Take the Wilderness of Rocks Trail to the Marshall Gulch Trail to the picnic area. Mt. Lemmon has a general store (closed on Wed.) with a good range of food for resupply, a cookie/pizza place, a public restroom in the Community Center and seems to be recovering from the 2003 fire. The Oracle Ridge Trailhead is pretty clearly marked, take the road from the trailhead 100 yards or so downhill to the trailbed. That’s all folks. Enjoy.
Nemo