Ever since we discovered a fabulous high-country hike from Sabino Canyon to Gordon Hirabayashi Campground (aka Prison Camp), we've been itching to repeat the hike in the opposite direction. Our 2008 hike persuaded us that such a hike was indeed possible, using a two-car shuttle and catching the last tram from stop 9 to shave three miles off the distance.

We dropped off the Saturn at Sabino Canyon the previous evening, and Kit ferried Ann and me to the trailhead on a crisp, clear Sunday morning.

We chose this hike because we wanted to get up close and personal with the abundant runoff from this winter's super-abundant snowfall. We got our feet wet almost immediately, wading across the stream in the normally dry wash that flows through Gordon Hirabayashi Campground.

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Making our way back downstream, we discovered that I had mistaken the location of the trail, and had the pleasure of crossing the stream a second time. Ann had better luck once I tossed her my Tevas!

The next mile was mud-luscious, but we had one more knee-deep crossing just short of the junction with Bear Canyon Trail. I remember eating lunch by this bone-dry wash in the anemic shade of a juniper tree on our last hike, so encountering a fast-flowing stream here was a real thrill.

From the junction, we switchbacked down East Fork Trail into Sabino Basin. This section of the hike is my favorite, offering stupendous views into this secluded basin and the snow-capped peaks of Pusch Ridge. Water was thundering down Pine Canyon, and from our lunch spot on the nose of the ridge we caught a glimpse of an enormous waterfall near the top of the canyon.

We passed by the junctions with Palisades and Box Camp Trail, adding them both to our "wish list".

We took a break to cool our heels in Sabino Creek (6.35 miles) before beginning our descent. Even high on the ridge above the creek, tiny side canyons whose presence I had never remarked were suddenly channeling sparkling streams, and we had a good view of the top of the ephemeral waterfall that Dennis and I photographed a few weeks ago. As we made our way around to a south-facing slope, clusters of Mexican poppies danced in the breeze.

We completed the 8.85 miles in six hours flat, so we caught the the 4:00 pm tram rather than the last tram of the day at 4:40. Even the tram ride down was fun, with a foot of water over most of the bridges. What a great spring hike!