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| Hiking | 11.60 Miles |
1,125 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.60 Miles | 9 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.45 mph |
| 1,125 ft AEG | 1 Hour 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Decided to try and get one more hike out of the Supes. We thought it would be nasty weather conditions but it just ended up being a weird day weather-wise. Sometimes cold sometimes hot but mostly just one beautiful day in the Supes.
Been wanting Black Mesa for a long long while and finally got my chance. We new by looking at the topos that we would fly through this trail so tacked on First Water Loop to finish out our hike. Sure enough we probably could have finished Black Mesa and been back at the TH by lunch.
First Water kicked our butts last year on our maiden hike. In fact I would call it a flat out fail. This time we were successful but it still whooped our pumpkins. But if you don't mind a little bushwhacking and boulder hopping this trail was well worth the price of admission (Sore tootsies and a little blood letting). We some kind of deer, white-tail if I am being forced right now. I got pictures but I'll need to look closer. We also saw our second Gila Monster! Very exciting. But if it's flowers you're looking for, the best I've seen this season were on First Water. Black Mesa looked a little dry and slim pickings for blooms.
We didn't get lost on First Water this time but we did add an unnecessary 1/2 mile total ignoring the cairns that lead up O'Grady Canyon. The trail that leaves Parker Pass actually keeps going, cutting right through O'Grady up and over into the next canyon which is West Boulder Creek. Once I realized that it was gonna keep going south I knew we need give a little more deference to cairns I skipped. Last time I lost the trail and I was determined not to play that game again. This time I kept to the trail and they still got me. It's a fun hike!
Once we got out O'Grady the trail really goes faint to not there until it hits one of the washes that feeds First Water but we were prepared for that from our last attempt. Wendi did not like this section. Perhaps saving this hike for the end of day was not the best decision ever made cause the extensive boulder hopping down FW got old quick. I forgot how much was before the falls and how much came after. Wendi about had it at one point, then she remember her Hello Kitty candies and she perked right up.
Once we got back on the Dutchman we were able to haul butt again and did. We treated ourselves to some Gold-strike Burgers at the Mining Camp and a couple of blue moons. Those are some huge burgers! Wendi could eat half, yours truly ended up having to eat her half too. I put all the weight right back on.
We lost quite a bit of time as I getting a little better with our new camera so I started experimenting with some of the settings. I'll post them soon. |
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| The Tree of Understanding, dazzling, straight, and simple, sprouts by the spring called Now I Get It. - Wislawa Szymborska, "Utopia" |
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