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Oops, wrong hill by kingsnake Notes 1) The object of this hike is referred to as Hill 6276 on CalTopo and US Topo, but MyTopo mistakenly refers to it as Hill 6292, which is actually the hill about a half mile south of USMM 3275. 2) If you simply go up, then return the way you came, this is a great hike for dogs & kids. Description This hike starts at the large black gravel lot that is also the trailhead for Glen Oaks #118. From the lot, head north up Hwy 89 for about a hundred yards, crossing over to the jeep trail. (As of 2013, there is a memorial to Arleen Cilione there, as there has been since 2002.) A few feet up the jeep trail, it splits right towards a camping area, and left. Go right through the camping area. From that point, you stick to the jeep trail. In some places it is pretty smooth, but there are some rocky areas, so if you drive it, high clearance 4x4 is recommended. Walking, as I did, is not bad at all. It's 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, and plenty of shade to boot. At about .5 miles, if you look to your right, you will see a rock formation that looks like a kneeling samurai. The terrain may look like an off trail highway to your left -- nothing but pine needles and very light brush, but do not be fooled: The brush quickly gets very dense, and stabby, if you cut across country. At 1.3 miles, you will pass the shot up vehicle roof. At 1.6 miles, will be the cement container for Board Creek Spring. It might have water in late winter / early spring, but in summer it is bone dry. At 1.8 miles, the trail again splits. Right is north towards Copper Basin Road Spring. Go left. A couple hundred feet further, the trail again splits. Left is towards Trap Corral Spring, which is also bone dry in summer. Stay right. At 2.1 miles, you will see a shot up tree stump next to a large boulder. At 2.3 miles, there will be a large dead tree blocking the trail, but you can actually walk right up the middle of it without getting bopped on the head. At 2.5 miles, you will reach the top of Hill 6276, which is marked by a yellow Land Survey Monument sign. About a foot away from the pole is a rock etched "USMM" on the side, with an etched "X" on top: That is USMM 3275. There were no other marks or discs there that I could find, despite digging through the adjacent pile of rocks. There's great views from up there. You now have a choice: You can head back the way you came, or you can proceed off the south end of Hill 6276, down a narrow, stabby-strewn, trail. The trail is not noted on any map, but is obvious on satellite view. While it may appear the trail will eventually connect up with Glen Oaks #118, so you can make a loop, it does not. Instead, after about a .3 miles, by a cairn, it turns west, eventually descending a wash to a jeep trail two miles north of Wilhoit. So, no Glen Oaks #118 combo loop, unless you beat some serious, stabby, brush for a mile across (the true) Hill 6292. It definitely is not the pine needle off trail highway it appeared it would be when the hike started. Personally, after some stabbiness, I turned around. Check out the Official Route and Triplog. Leave No Trace and +Add a Triplog after your hike to support this local community.
One-Way Notice This hike is listed as One-Way. When hiking several trails on a single "hike", log it with a generic name that describes the hike. Then link the trails traveled, check out the example. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.
Most recent Triplog Review
Glen Oaks - Hill 6276
Last Friday, I figured 4000 foot Globe would be a cooler hike than Phoenix, and was wrong, so this week I looked around for something yet higher, but still close to Phoenix, and found some short, stub-description, hikes south of Prescott. (Wilhoit is over 5000 feet.) Then the Doce Fire kicked off. It looked to be burning north, rather than south, so it was on.
Not sure why, but I got a thing about photographing memorials. I'm always telling my wife I need to stop more often, and take pictures of them. When I get home, I google for any news about why the monument was placed. Imagine then, how wierd it must feel to photograph Arleen Cilione's memorial at the start of this hike, only to find out later that's where her murdered body was found.
Up the jeep trail I went. The topo makes it appear it is mostly foot trail, but in fact it is jeep trail almost until you get to the dead tree blocking the trail, about a quarter mile from the USMM marker. Judging by the trailside terrain -- smooth pine needle floor with nary a bush -- I was hoping the trail south off Hill 6276 would be stabby-free.
Temps were 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, and there was plenty of shade until I got to the USMM. The sky showed absolutely no evidence of fire smoke, and were in fact a brilliant blue.
I spent a fruitless hour searching for a disc that my mis-read datasheet says is actually on pointy Hill 6195, next to Hwy 89, a little south of the Glen Oaks trailhead. I did not disturb the post, or the marker rock, but I did dig through a nearby pile of rocks. I found thousands of dead ladybugs underneath them.
After I gave up, I headed south down the narrow and stabby-strewn path towards what I hoped would be a link up with Glen Oaks #118. That turned out not be the case. Combining thick brush with a Garmin 60 csx](./dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
that chose that moment to puke, I decided I would be better off returning the way I came then thrashing my off trail way in some random, and probably incorrect, direction.
Lunch was a cheesesteak sandwich at the T-Bird Cafe in Peeples Valley. No beer, but you can BYOB if you have it.
Not sure why, but I got a thing about photographing memorials. I'm always telling my wife I need to stop more often, and take pictures of them. When I get home, I google for any news about why the monument was placed. Imagine then, how wierd it must feel to photograph Arleen Cilione's memorial at the start of this hike, only to find out later that's where her murdered body was found.
- http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2002/ ... son_woman/
http://yavapaisw.com/cold-cases/
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=arleen+cilione
Up the jeep trail I went. The topo makes it appear it is mostly foot trail, but in fact it is jeep trail almost until you get to the dead tree blocking the trail, about a quarter mile from the USMM marker. Judging by the trailside terrain -- smooth pine needle floor with nary a bush -- I was hoping the trail south off Hill 6276 would be stabby-free.
Temps were 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix, and there was plenty of shade until I got to the USMM. The sky showed absolutely no evidence of fire smoke, and were in fact a brilliant blue.
I spent a fruitless hour searching for a disc that my mis-read datasheet says is actually on pointy Hill 6195, next to Hwy 89, a little south of the Glen Oaks trailhead. I did not disturb the post, or the marker rock, but I did dig through a nearby pile of rocks. I found thousands of dead ladybugs underneath them.
After I gave up, I headed south down the narrow and stabby-strewn path towards what I hoped would be a link up with Glen Oaks #118. That turned out not be the case. Combining thick brush with a Garmin 60 csx
that chose that moment to puke, I decided I would be better off returning the way I came then thrashing my off trail way in some random, and probably incorrect, direction.
Lunch was a cheesesteak sandwich at the T-Bird Cafe in Peeples Valley. No beer, but you can BYOB if you have it.
2013-06-21 kingsnake
