DESTINATION Oversite Canyon Trail #112 1 Photoset
2012-06-22 | |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 6.95 Miles |
3,586 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.95 Miles | 7 Hrs | | 1.54 mph |
| 3,586 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 30 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Oversite Canyon completes the triumvirate of sister canyons (along with Ida & Bear Canyons) in this region of the Huachuca Mountains. I chose to hike them all in an out & back fashion, so as to potentially obtain a more in-depth feel for each of them individually, and not in the loop-type fashion that is readily available when Crest Trail is engaged. Oversite is a bit steeper (a 20-20 candidate for sure, as all three canyons are) than the others and more primitive than Ida for certain - as it tends to be overgrown, tight and easily lost in several places - this of course has its appeal to many trekkers - myself included.
There is an excellent spring near the prospecting cabin in the lower portion of the route. It is listed in the topography maps of the region as merely 'spring' - and is unlisted here on Hike AZ - so I will be adding it to the data base. The spring is just above the terraced area around the cabin and was flowing audibly strong at well over a gallon per minute in later June, an excellent sign of reliability as a source. I actually wished I had needed to take on water, as it was so appealing!
Overt evidence of Bear activity is lacking in Oversite Canyon - very similar to Ida in this regard - there is a greater feeling of openness, as the canyon is the widest of the three with a more permeable canopy overhead. This also allows for more accurate GPS tracking for those who are documenting such details. I have reanalyzed my previous canyon hikes in the region via the elevation correction feature offered by TrainingPeaks - as the Garmin (AEG) data never seemed accurate or even close. The data entered for the Oversite Canyon GPS route provided is accurate and cross-checked with Google Earth & TOPO. At any rate, the bird varieties were very pronounced and several sightings I am still trying to identify. The 'Wild Turkey Hens' I happened upon in Oversite Creek were not overly shy at all (see photos) - and are the oft mistaken Pea Foul of the Huachucas - a Sky Island extension of their more prominent AZ territory throughout the Mogollon Rim.
Oversite Canyon Trail #112 works its way along the drainage of Oversite Creek and then upward through steep switchbacks and over a couple of ridge-line saddles to ultimately join Crest Trail #103 700 - 800' above the bowl of Bear Spring and then follows Bear Saddle toward Granite Peak if you are westward bound. The trail in its uppermost regions peers into the aforementioned adjoining canyons and is narrow and offers a double incline / decline of both the slope of the ridge traverses while continuing to gain / lose elevation. This is particularly interesting and more pronounced in the decline trajectory of the the return trip...where I managed to only fall flat on my rear twice all the way back down. AEG 3586'- FPM 516' - Grade 19.5% GPS Route Available |
 |
Spring - Prospector's Cabin |
Gallon + per minute |
Gallon + per minute |
| | | This source was found fluid & running audibly strong - it appeared near pristine to the eye. | | _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
