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| Hiking | 5.00 Miles |
700 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.00 Miles | 2 Hrs | | 2.50 mph |
| 700 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This would be my first trip into WCC. I was headed to the Maxwell Trail but was coming in from the north heading south on Lake Mary road. I mistakenly turned right on FR 81A instead of going another mile to FR 81. This cost me a couple of hours driving around on horrible roads that were not marked. I made it back to LMR and went a little further and found FR 81 and turned right. The big sign for WCC helped. This road was much better but still a bit rough in spots. I drove all the way to about 1/4 mile from the trailhead and parked. There is plenty of room to park in this area and I did not need 4 wheel drive to get there. Be careful though in a hard rain. I could see where this road could get really bad and really muddy!
I was planning an overnight into the canyon really to just explore and do some fishing. I finished loading my backpack, logged in at the trailhead, and started an immediate descent. The trail is pretty steep but has a lot of switchbacks. I only had to use my hands in a few spots to negotiate over a boulder or log or two. It took me about 45 minutes to reach the creek. I found a good campsite about 100 yards downstream and set up right away. It was a Tuesday in April so I expected to have the place to myself and I did. After lunch I broke out the flyrod and began to work my way upstream. I caught several small rainbows that looked like they were streambred. Later that afternoon I walked downstream a ways and caught a few more trout, all small although a lost a 12-14 inch fish on a #18 olive bead head nymph. The trail is intermitent at best in this area and several creek crossings are necessary if you want to cover any ground. Crossing the creek is no problem here and shallow spots can be found.
Firewood was plentiful and it didn't get too cold that night. The next morning I fished for a couple of more hours. I wanted to explore further downstream thinking that bigger fish might be found there. Instead, I called it a day, packed up, hiked out, and went to Horton Creek to camp and fish for some stockers in Tonto Creek. The next time I come to WCC I'm going to bring water shoes. Boots are not the best thing for walking up and down the creek unless you don't mind wet boots. |
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