| | -
-
-
-
-
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 15.90 Miles |
2,680 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.90 Miles | 8 Hrs 55 Mns | | 1.78 mph |
| 2,680 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I followed azhunt2012's route for a lasso loop so I could cover some new territory, rather than have to backtrack. I just love new real estate!
I signed in at the trailhead register at 7:15am, an hour later than I had intended. Crap. I didn't know what conditions to expect or how long it would take me because most of the route was over unfamiliar ground. Wanting to complete the hike in daylight, I decided some modifications were needed on my typical hiking routine...
No Daydreaming: Pay attention and keep moving
Photos: None in familiar territory (at least, at the beginning) and very selective elsewhere
Side Trips / Exploring: Forget about it - maybe next time
Breaks: Only as necessary and, NO daydreaming
Fortunately, no route finding is needed, as the entire route is signed and idiot-proof, so there were no missteps along the way.
Keeping dedicated to my goal really payed off (although, I did relax my new rules in the last 5 miles, since I knew I still had plenty of time). With a total of 2 hours stopped time (according to gps), I signed back in at 4:10pm with hours of daylight to spare. Brings to mind something SuperstitionGuy once said to me when describing a proposed route..."If you just don't dally too much, you can make it in a day." So true.
I made it to Barks Creek in 40 minutes and the Terrapin junction in under an hour. Hiking the Bluff Spring Trail was very enjoyable. The creek was flowing well and the sound of rushing water always puts me in a mellow mood because it takes me back to when I lived on the beach...STOP! No daydreaming... OK, next...
Turning off on the Dutchman, I passed a group of young campers almost immediately. I was surprised, since it was a Monday morning. Oh, yes... Spring Break. They seemed to be just hanging around, pretty much doing nothing. They sounded and looked bored and didn't seem like they were in any hurry to change that status. The minute it took me to pass their camp was long enough for me to become bored, as well. They are too young to realize how valuable time really is. It's too bad we can't bank all the time we waste when we're young and save for later when we can appreciate it more and put it to better use. Hmmm... It just occurs to me that maybe they were stoned... in which case, their boredom is golden.... Just before I got kicked out of college... STOP! No daydreaming.
OK, right on. Peace, Dudes. Don't forget to clean up when you leave.
Still on the Dutchman, I passed another large group of middle-aged folks standing about 100ft off the trail in the large clearing shortly after the Bluff intersect... maybe 8-10 of them. They were all just standing around talking and laughing. There wasn't a camp set up and I didn't notice that any of them were wearing packs. It looked like most of them were wearing predominantly white outfits and, from where I was, it looked like they were at one of those racquet club cocktail parties my parents and their friends used to have... play a little tennis... get stinking drunk... fall down and make an pumpkin of yourself... STOP! OK!!! Man! This is a lot harder than I thought it was gonna be.
Charlebois Canyon... yikes. FrEEKy place. I spent the longest four minutes of my life in there and the next seven trying to get away from it as fast as possible. Is there such a thing as a day'mare'? 
Here's a piece of advice that I've never given before, since I routinely ignore it myself... If you really must go there, don't go alone. Just sayin.
moving on...
Aside from the imaginary ones in Charlebois, the next people I saw were along the first part of the Terrapin... another group of campers, just a slightly older edition of the first Party Dudes. There sure seems to be a whole lotta nothin goin on in the Supes today. They were the VERY last people I saw all day and I think I was the only one actually moving out there. The trails could have had tumbleweeds rolling down them... not that I mind. With 10 miles already behind me, the trek up to Terrapin Pass seemed endless, but the view from the top did, also. Pretty cool. You can see so far around you that it feels like you're the only one on earth. And, it was so quiet up there... maybe all the kids were taking their naps to get rested up for the evening's group sit.
Nobody left to talk about - it was uneventful all the way back. I was starting to get lonely... NOT! I saw more than I needed to see for one trip. It was really a great hike on a beautiful day. In reality (that is where I am, right? ... just checkin.)... it don't get no better than this! |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
|
|
| _____________________
I'm at home in the wilderness... it's civilization I have problems with! ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
