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| Hiking | 1.76 Miles |
300 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.76 Miles | 3 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.51 mph |
| 300 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 20 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Last Hike this trip, and we go just a little ways up into the Pinalenos. Apparently, Chad feels that I have not been on enough Water Hikes and decides that we need to do one more before I book it back to Phoenix later today. And he's right, I haven't done nearly enough Hikes with wonderful Creeks and cool Waterfalls, and as far as I'm concerned, I never will. I guess I'm just a Water Baby. 
We get a little bit of a late start, since I have to "check out" of the Roper Lake Campground and pack everything in the car one last time.  We get to the TH and Chad shows me a historic Apple Orchard just below us. He tells me that the Orchard gets it's Water from Jacobson Creek and that we will see alot of structures along the Creek for this reason.
We start out and almost immediately hit, what Chad calls the "Flume". Apparently it's a Waterway built by the Orchard to channel Water down the Canyon. There is some piping also running alongside of it, as well as a few very old pieces of equipment from days gone by. But it was still very cool and the "Trail" literally hopped back and forth over this Flume the whole way up to Adam's Flat. It was a very narrow area, but was open just enough to where you weren't battling the local Flora very much. There were some yellow Wildflowers that were blooming their pumpkins off and this also added to the pretty scenery along the Creek/Flume areas.
We reach Adam's Flat and walk around among the large Oaks and Wildflowers, just enjoying the area and the day in general. Really neat area, you are right on the edge of a transition of Oak, Scrub Oak, Manzanita, Juniper and Ponderosa Pine, all in the same area.
We take a few pictures here and then head down to the actual Jacobson Creek. What a beautiful, colorful Creek. There must be alot of minerals and metals in this Water, as the colors on the rocks are almost vividly unusual. Of course, there are many more photo opportunities here, as well as swimming holes.  I actually pass on getting in today, as I don't really want to change before the long drive back to Phoenix, although I didn't mind doing a little wading for that optimum photo angle.... 
And then, we hit the big Pool, before Jacobson Creek takes a long plunge into the Canyon below. You cannot see the Falls from our vantage point, (that will come later), but the Pool is very deep and inviting. It looks like one of those negative edge Pools you see at those fancy resorts. The Water just disappears over the Cliff. On Chad's very heartfelt advice, I pass on taking a dip here, as the entire area is Slick Rock and it would have been tricky getting to, in, and out of the Pool.
We take a nice, shaded break here, and then head on down the Creek to get to the vantage point where we can actually see the Falls. A little bushwacking here, but well worth it. Again, Chad scores with another very high, scenic, breathtaking set of Falls. Someday, I am going to have to hit all of these Falls that he has shown me, from the bottom. Nothing better than sitting under a Cascade of Water. It's apparent that I need to start compiling a list. HippyHaley has Cartwheels across America, I guess mine will be "Drowning under Waterfalls across Arizona". 
Again, the picture taking commences, I promise, this Photoset Water Bomb, will be my last, for at least a couple of weeks... 
We then meet back up with the Creek further down and take a long, shaded break in the trees. What another cool area. We then hook back up with the Trail along the Flume and hike out. We drive to Noon Creek Picnic area and take one more break before I start the drive back home.
When I return to this area, I don't know how you are going to be able to top all of these trips, Chad. The Hike today was again, amazing, and you are 10 for 10 for all of your recommendations this week! Thanks for being such a cool, enthusiastic Tour Guide and for showing me some of your favorite places in the Pinalenos! Your passion for this Sky Island and area is very cool and I think some of it rubbed off!!! I will return, lucky you. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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