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| Hiking | 7.75 Miles |
1,576 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.75 Miles | 3 Hrs | | 2.77 mph |
| 1,576 ft AEG | 12 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| no partners | | Once again, a hike  instead of a spin/strength class at the Club. Those can wait for hotter days. After work (3PM) I drove to Lost Dog TH with the intent of doing a route I hadn't done in a few years (Lost Dog, Old Jeep, Ringtail, Lost Dog). However, when I got to the junction with Ringtail, I decided to change my route and do it the opposite way. And then when I got to the junction with Old Jeep or Ringtail to Sunrise Peak, I eyed the Peak and thot:
since the temperature is so cool I should go for the harder traverse and head over to Sunrise Peak. this would be a good warm-up for the Black Top Mesa hike I am doing this weekend. and I avoided a part of the rocky trail from the Lost Dog TH to Sunrise Trail.
I consulted the map to determine mileage since it was 3:45PM and figured I could be to Sunrise Peak in time to see the fountain  . So off I went enjoying the Ringtail trail which took me further west than I thot before joining up with the junction at 128th St and Sunrise Trail. So far, in that mile and 1/2, I was the only person on the trail but I did see two rabbits. I would see few people today.
As I headed up, I saw two hikers stopped alongside the trail, a biker and a hiker coming down toward the top before the first saddle, and two other hikers coming down as I got toward the second saddle. Lately on this trail, I have been so surprised at how alone I am on a city trail. I did see a little garter snake laying across the trail but as soon as he saw me get my camera out, he skidaddled. I was the only one at the Peak (that 1/4 mile-a little more than 250 feet straight up  is a doozy too) where I stopped and rested for a few minutes as I got there 10 minutes early. I took some zoom photos but it was quite a hazy day.
It was a bit chilly (mostly due to the breezy conditions) so I headed back down and tried to keep up a pretty good pace after a wardrobe adjustment. The most disappointing thing is my feet kept bumping into the trail and I was stumbling a lot  . I have never done that before; it was very frustrating ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") . I tried to really pick up my right foot as it seemed to be the most out of control but then soon my left foot joined in this silly game. So I concentrated on the old heel-toe method of hiking and pretty much stayed level for the last mile and 1/2.
I did take a minor detour in one of the washes as what looked like a cave got my attention. The water has done quite a job of erosion at the area I investigated but it wasn't a cave. You'll have to see the photo to appreciate the bank that has now been created.
It was so chilly on the way back that my nose was even running and I had to turn the heat on in Tonto to get warm. I did get to see that big old ball of fire set below the horizon though so that was kind of cool.
Oh, I almost forgot. We have a new resident at our office complex and since I had my camera, I took a video of the owl: http://youtu.be/b8qTLkvEDtc |
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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. |
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Route Editor
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