Copper Camp Trail #87 Photoset • topohiker • 2011-04-03 • HikeArizona.COM

Copper Camp Trail #87, AZ

	2011-04-03
	4 by topohiker

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Copper Camp Trail #87

Phoenix, AZ

Copper Camp Trail #87

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking	25.87 Miles	4,401 AEG

Hiking	25.87 Miles	11 Hrs	2.59 mph
	4,401 ft AEG	1 Hour Break

no routes

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no linked trail guides

Partners

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no partners

I parked at the dam (7:55) and hiked on the walkway to FR2058 to FR477 to the Copper Camp trail. I went out to the Copper Camp and came back. Finding the Copper camp TH can be tricky. Lucky for me my GPS had FR477 pre-loaded and I was able to find it. Copper Camp is an old Jeep road for the first 5~6 miles. Then it drops down into the Sheep Creek and the route finding begins. Parts of the trail in the Sheep Creek are washed away and it's easier to follow the creek bed. I spent a lot of time looking for the trail and re-routing washed out parts. The trail picks up after you enter the Copper Camp creek. I missed some trail cutoffs and wound up going up the creek bed. I got to the camp by 1:20. I headed back. This time I was able to stay on the trail through the Copper Camp creek. I had lunch in the shade by the Sheep Creek. I also pumped some water. On the way back I checked out the alternate Copper Camp TH. I also did my usually exploration for ideas on futures hikes. I got back to the Jeep by 7:05.

Wildlife:

1) I took a wrong turn by a corral and saw a Gila monster! :DANCE:

2) Right by the wilderness boundary a coiled rattlesnake saw me! I jumped backwards; fell on my butt as he slide away. :scared:

3) On the return trip when I was crossing the Copper Camp Creek I almost stepped on another rattlesnake!! I was rock hopping and all of sudden I saw and heard a coiling rattler ready to strike. I somehow in mid-hop went backwards. It scared the piss out me.

4) As I approached the dam on the way back, I saw a brown fox running on the dam and then he jump into the mountain side.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Gila Monster

_____________________

"Everywhere is walking distance...If you have the time"
-Stephen Wright

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