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| Hiking | 10.25 Miles |
3,313 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.25 Miles | 7 Hrs 4 Mns | | 1.45 mph |
| 3,313 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Well it was time to get out of town and go to a cooler place. Mount Humphreys has been something that I have been wanting to do for a while now and yesterday was the day! Something about going to the highest place in the State just sounds appealing. Off I went and up I went. I arrived at Snowbowl and hit the Trail at 1:15PM. Really nice day out and I was getting excited just looking up at the summit. I had also read about the B24 Bomber crash site and thought that might be a cool side trip for the way down. The other consideration if time permitted was to do a full loop by connecting the Humpherys Trail to the Weatherford Trail to the Kachina Trail.
I worked my way up the switchbacks at a nice and steady pace thinking to myself this is much easier than the Mount Lemmon Hike we just did. That was until I got passed the tree line! Once there the tempurature dropped at least 20 degrees and the wind was blowing at an unbelivable rate. Not even kidding it was difficult to stand and walk at times. The Last 1/2 mile really killed my time getting up and I arrived at the summit at 3:30. There was a really nice guy and his son up there with two dogs. They were hunkered down in the stone bunker avoiding the wind up top. Funny I felt like I just met a couple sherpas as they were all bundled up like that.
In thinking about my options and the time it took me to get up here the loop wasn't looking too good. Not to mention from this vantage I could see much of the Weatherford Trail and it was covered in snow. So I decide to head on out after enjoying about 15 minutes of being up top and doing the sign in thing.
On the way down I look for the Bomber site place to leave the trail as described in the HAZ write up and some of the Triplogs. I find what I think is the place and make my way accross a rock slide. Not really knowing where I am going I place a call to Kyle (Tough_Boots) as he did this one recently. No answer so I continue on. Good news I see a carin so I get excited that I am at least heading in the right direction. Shortly thereafter I see an engine part, then another, wow I found it I think to myself. But wait where are the wings and the body of the plane? I hike up and around for a bit and then decide to send Kyle a text to see if there is more or if I am just wasting my time searching for something that may not be there. He responds with a little information that at least keeps me in the game. I can feel that I am near but am running out of time with the daylight consideration. Keep looking says one part of my mind, while the other says get back on the trail and head out before the sun drops. I keep pushing up the hill looking for more debris and sure enough I find another large piece of an engine. Just as I was about to turn back in the interest of time BAM I hit another large rock slide and there it was! Plane wings, body parts, landing gear, and who knows what else spread all the way up the rock slide with a memorial up top! I send Kyle a text saying I had finally found it! Nice job he replys and off I go to shoot some photos and explore. Wow how cool and how erie/creepy at the same time.
Time was moving by fast but I wanted to explore more. I weighed things out and did as much investigating as I could. This was the highlight of the day and I was super intrigued. Okay the sun is dropping fast, I have no headlight so it is time to go.
On the way back I didn't recognize anything and for a short bit and got a little off track. I dropped down further than I needed to be. I was communicating with Kyle though this since I was out there by myself. (thanks for the stand by Kyle) After a little more cutting accross and down I found the first rock slide that I had crossed and that is when I realized I was just a little low. Up I climbed to re-connect with the trail. It's now almost dark but it doesn't matter to me since at least I am back on the trail and know where I am going.
The moon was straight above and helped light the way out. I was about a half mile away from the finish line and feeling really good about my day when a Bear let out a growl at me passing by. I didn't see him nor did I want to go say hello. I just giggled inside and let out a loud Growl back as I kept moving. He did it one more time but I was off in the distance by this time. I kept Kyle updated with my progress from the crash site on down just for my peace of mind and knowing that I was the only one out there at this hour. (If I would have done this with some of my non-hiker friends they would have sent in the search and rescue). At 8:19 I hit the Trailhead and see my car in the distance. Ahhh what a great day I say to myself. A summit, some sherpas, a crash site, a friend to call upon, a bear saying hello, what more could a guy ask for! Okay a Motel room and a cold Coors Light! Perfect! |
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