Hot Loop Trail to Jacks Canyon>

[kgmolson]

Going to try this one on Monday. Just wondering who has done it and how long it takes... it looks like it is a 15.6 mile loop. I I get started by about 8 will i hope to have this one wrapped up by about 5. Just in case it talkes longer or I get a late jump, are there outs such as being able to hop off the trail into the Villiage?

Thanks for the help,
Kevin

[joebartels]

Hi Kevin,

It's a good time to attempt that loop. There are some sweet views off the wide ridge.

It's a cairn route on Horse Mesa from mid-way up to Jack's Point. Just avoid the sucker trails as the ridge is wide and those options can be time consuming. The loop is possible in 9 hours if you excel in the top group. I'd highly recommend going counterclockwise taking Horse Mesa first. This allows you to decide if you really want to continue. Also it's much easier figuring out how to get into Jacks Canyon.

There really are no good escape routes if you go clockwise. The two ravines that cut inward on the west side of Horse Mesa are steep and THICK in skin rippin' flora.

[kgmolson]

Awesome... Thanks Joe.

The Hot Loop (horse Mesa) seems most challenging, so I would want to take that on first and really pick up some speed and time on the Jacks Canyon Trail back to the parking lot. So by going counterclockwise would I have an escape route?

Thanks again... cant wait to give this one a shot.

[joebartels]

Personally I'd push through or backtrack before taking on any escape route.

Hope you post a triplog when you get back. There's several interested in how it goes.

[kgmolson]

Sounds good!!!! Cant wait to do this one... a triplog will be posted on Monday night!

Thanks for the tips!

[kgmolson]

wow!!! What a hike. although, we got bumped off trail early we recovered and made pretty good time... I will post a trip report this evening.

[kgmolson]

also Joe... I had a question: We seemed to get a little turned around at the Munds saddle, it didnt help that there were about 2 ft of snow up there, but then you hit the end of the hot loop, can you just turn stright left (southeast) and hit jacks that way? If so, that would have saved us some time!!

[joebartels]

It wraps around Oak Tank then just shy of Committee Tank down to the saddle. Don't believe I'd want to be there in the snow Hope you didn't get lost in that forest maze!

[kgmolson]

Yeah, the snow was the toughest part, trying to keep the trail in sight (markers at the right time really helped)

I loved the hike, I am going to do it again in mid spring.