|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 4.59 Miles |
614 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.59 Miles | 1 Hour 41 Mns | | 2.73 mph |
| 614 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | My wife was down in Aravaipa, so I had planned to do this on Wednesday, then drive down to Safford to do some hiking there, before heading up through Cascobel to meet her in Aravaipa. Instead, I stayed home to work on a project. But I came to a natural break on Thursday evening, so on Friday morning headed out to Globe anyway. Though it was supposed to be 107 in Phoenix, I figured Globe, at 2500 feet higher, would be tolerable. I stopped in Superior to have breakfast (hamburger and bacon omelette *yum*) at the Buckboard Cafe, before getting to the trailhead south of Globe exactly at my expected time of 0800.
I started walking down the jeep trail and in the day's theme, missed where Trail #200 split off from it. About a half mile down the jeep trail, I realized my mistake, and rather than doubling back, cut across the wash. There I discovered that the vegetation in the area is both plentiful and painful.
After passing through a broken gate -- don't forget to close it!  -- Trail 200 splits south, while Check Dam Trail #190 heads west. It can be a bit confusing, either turning the wrong way, or continuing down the wash, as the trails are winding across the wash at that point. It's bone dry, so hard to tell which tracks are the ones to follow.
Same thing after 190 crosses over the saddle, as I got on the wrong trail and ended up the wash between Parker Tank and Hill 4368. After photographing a beautful cactus  , I tried to beat my way through the brush back towards the trail, but it was just too thick, so I followed the wash backwards instead. Once I got back on Trail 190, I headed west until I came to the windmill. (It's not on the topo, and not listed as a water source, though I did just put in a request to add it.) The windmill tank was full of water, which, for a tank, was not bad -- probably becauser the windmill was actively pumping water into it. It was starting to get pretty darn hot, so I took a break in the plentiful shade.
With all the side-tracking, I figured I would not have time to finish the whole 190-197-FR 112-200 loop by noon, so I figured I go up near the Icehouse CCC, then turn back. Up the trail a few minutes, I decided even that would be too much heat, so turned back.
When I got back to the windmill, rather than mis-directing my way back up 190, I got on Six Shooter Road. The gate on the topo exists, is metal tubing, locked and signed. But the signs were silver, on both sides, so I figured that meant I was allowed to hop it. So, I did. About a half mile further east, I came to a cattle grate, with a second signed gate, silver on my side. I peeked on the other side, and that sign said "Keep Out!". Oops. Crossed the gate so I was on the outside of the area I should not have been in, and kept walking. There's some trailers and rough houses up there, so I kept my head down, hoping not looking around would cause me to be invisible. Got to the other side of the compound, and there was a third gate, this one open, with a cattle grate, and a "Keep Out" of the side I was on. Oops. Again.
Finished up with a green chile-stuffed sopapilla at Chalo's. Also called Pam to let her know I was back. (I had arranged with her to be my backup in case anything happened, as there is no mobile reception in Aravaipa where my wife was at.) 
In conclusion, I'd like to do this trail again, all the way around, but definitely not in June. (Or July. Or August.) |
|
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
|
|
| _____________________
| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
