I really do love the Salt River Canyon Wilderness. My preferred area is everything from Pinal Creek to Horseshoe Bend. So far I have logged over fifty miles of hiking in this area and I still have three locations that I want to explore. For me, this was a very special hike that I have been looking forward to since last fall. I have been patiently waiting for the riparian vegetation to come in. The timing was perfect. Although the hike is only listed at about nine miles total in length, it really feels more like about eleven before you're done. Between the rugged bushwhack boulder hopping and the steep uphill sand wash hiking back up to the trailhead, I definitely felt like I had done something. Seeing the evidence of beaver activity was crazy. I have never known of beavers to set up residence in a low desert area. Were did they come from? It must have been a long and interesting journey.

For this trip I joined up with Hank (Grasshopper) again. I am frankly surprised that he didn't want to kill me before we finally made it out of there. He is a real trooper! To my amazement he actually wants to go hiking with me again. Hank shares my passion for remote backcountry adventure.