| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 11.00 Miles |
2,951 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.00 Miles | 7 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.47 mph |
| 2,951 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Mt Peeley TH, Thicket Spring, Sheep Creek, small portion of Sheep Creek Trail and back to Mt Peeley TH 7:15AM to 4PM. At 5:45AM I met up with Tough_Boots, Hike Monk, and Desert-Boonie65 at Ft McDowell for our drive in the dark to Mt Peeley TH. Last Sunday Ambika, Brian, Suz, Steve & I got turned away on our drive up the road to the TH due to weather so I was glad to finally make it. That's quite the drive in for sure.
We saw RedRoxx44 at the TH. Friday, she had searched the area where the dogs had seemed to pick up something and was planning to search a different area Saturday. She had camped in her jeep overnite. Thx for driving all that way and searching Letty. It sure was appreciated.
Next it was the rapid hike to meet up with Steve, Brian and Ken at their campsite around 8AM. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up with the power hikers so I asked if there was some area I could help with the search. Fortunately Nonot came up with the perfect hike for me; though challenging in places, at least I felt I could at least contribute something on foot. He suggested I head up the Sheep Creek Trail which was only about 2 miles or so from camp. The directions were something like: take a left and then 2 rights. Okay, got it and off I went... right up the wrong trail. I didn't know it was an IMMEDIATE left. 
Once on my way, I headed down the Thicket Trail until I arrived at the sign that said Sheep Creek Trail was 2 miles to the right. Eventually Kyle and John caught up and passed me on their way to search a ravine. I commented on how slanted the ground was in areas and Kyle, who has hiked in the Mazzies before, said it is much worse in other areas. It sure makes you pay attention and also see how easy it would be to lose your footing and go sliding down almost anywhere; in this case, down into the dry creek bed below.
Once I finally got to the top of this area, I pulled out the binoculars and scoured the area for signs of Joe in the mountains to the west of me as well as toward Mt Peeley. Knowing that Joe wears the beige type clothing, the blonde-colored agave presented many false hopes. I finally struggled up the north side of the hill that would be my nemisis on the way back. I lost the trail for a minute but re-routed and found the way again. Once on top I spent some more time with the binoculars. The views really are something.
So down this what-didn't-seem-so-big hill I went not having any clue what to expect. Once again, I lost the trail a couple times but fortunately it had been taped so I was never lost for more than a minute. I finally got down to this neat area that was a narrow run-off of some sort. The sun wasn't up above the mountain yet so it was still shaded as I continued my way. I passed the AZT sign that indicated the Sheep Trail started in another 1/2 mile. Brian caught up with me and showed me what his GPS was indicating on his cell phone's large screen since I really wasn't sure where I was at relative to the terrain around me. He cut off a short-time later and headed up another ravine. I got a couple pics of him as he taped his way up the ravine.
I finally got to the Sheep Creek Trail which follows along the mostly dry creek bed. And once again, I got off the trail here and there. I was beginning to wonder if Steve realized where he had sent me . Ken had given me some tape to use to indicate where I had been for searches so I pulled that out and started putting it up in the areas where I was momentarily confused. The trail was also cairned so I could use those as a guide too. As it would so happen, I found that putting that tape up would be my bread crumbs so that I would be able to get back without confusion in certain areas. Not only that, Steve who would catch me later, was also putting up tape (he does a much better job at that too) so I flew along and across the creek bed on the way back.
I reached another sign that showed the Sheep Creek Trail going to the left and the space where presumably should show an arrow going to the right was missing. I thot for a moment and decided I would obviously need to head west so off I went. Along the way to the next intersection I came upon a nice spot that had been used for camping with a fire ring and a log to sit on. Not long after encountering a large corral and trough you reach the next intersection that shows the Sheep Creek Trail 88 going both ways AGAIN and also shows Copper Camp Trail 87 if you head left.
I decided I would try and get up on the ridge and hike for another 15-20 minutes, take a break and then head back. It was a relatively short climb up and I was rewarded with wonderful views of the south side of Sheep Mountain. I pulled out my binoculars a couple different times as I walked the top of this hill. I also took a couple zoom movies of the area thinking maybe somebody might see something in them. In retrospect, I should have been taking zoom photos instead. However, if someone is out there and has a camcorder, those have some incredible zooms on them and take much better movies so that might be the way to go.
I turned around just before the trail headed down into a ravine; plus I had used the last of my tape. I ran into Steve in a couple minutes. We exchanged our binoculars to see if we could see anything differently. We discussed how the beige-colored agave made it difficult to decipher if you could be looking at anything out of the ordinary. Steve continued on and I headed back.
I thot it would take me a lot longer to get back but I made pretty good time thru the creek bed and drainage but then I got stopped in my tracks by THAT hill. Whew it was really tough for me. Fortunately I didn't have to be in a hurry and I kept trudging my way up and up and up. I almost wished for those GC switchbacks. I guess I didn't realize how long it was on the way down  In fact, going back this trail and the one from the campsite to the TH is mostly up and up and up some more. Sheesh. Anyway, I took my binoculars out for the last time and checked the mountainsides but couldn't see anything of note.
I got back to the campsite and waited for the rest of the group. I can't just sit so I decided to gather a little bit of firewood, you know - so I don't get voted off the island and then Ken came and said we would meet John and Kyle back at the TH. I left a note for Steve and Brian and we headed up and up to the TH. That is some pretty tough hiking out there but it has a lot to offer and if you like solitude, it is certainly the place to be. I didn't have my trekking poles and my knee really let me know.
It was nice to see the scenery on the drive back. We stopped to talk to some folks alongside the road. They had scopes and we asked what they were doing... they said looking for big game so I asked what kind and they said Big Horns. We told them about GPS Joe; even though they weren't looking in the right area at the time, if they saw any signs of our missing hiker to call the sheriff.
I almost forgot. Here are two videos:
This is mostly of the area looking toward Sheep Mountain and a 360 degree view - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WGOBlrm__k
This is mostly of my hike along the creek bed and out along the Thicket Trail - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yP-GgW1sXRA |
|
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
|
|
| _____________________
For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
