I contacted Southwest Trekking on a recent visit to Tucson to see if they could arrange a day long hike in the mountains, in order to help me prepare for climbing Kilimanjaro this summer. John Heiman, the owner of SW Trekking willingly obliged. He mapped out a day long, 16 mile hike with a 3,500 ft elevation change and guided me personally through the backcountry. It was an amazing experience to hike on infrequently used trails (at one point we lost the trail altogether), to still see snow on the ground in March, and to enjoy the solitude (we saw one other person in our 9 hour hike), the stunning views and the beautiful terrain. John has a wealth of knowledge of this part of the world and can tailor a memorable, and safe, outdoor experience to meet your needs. He also has a top notch team – I hiked with one of his guides, Trevor Long, in Ventana Canyon, who gave me several good tips on my upcoming climb. If you’re looking for an outstanding day enjoying the outdoors, I would definitely recommend John and SW Trekking. Sincerely, Katy – NJ