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| Hiking | 14.00 Miles |
2,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.00 Miles | 10 Hrs | | 1.40 mph |
| 2,000 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | The mission was to do a night hike up Bunyun Peak and test out my new spotlight.
I did some sightseeing on the way to the 'trail head', driving through the farm belt north of Gila Bend. The environmental damage there is quite extensive. Invasive tamarix, or salt cedars, have completely replaced native species of willow and cottonwood. The combined effect of years of irrigation, saline wells, evaporation, and runoff from the cedar patches has caused the soil to become very salty; in some areas the salt is visible on the surface in white sheets. The farmland has become marginal at best, with many acres completely destroyed by the salt.
The first stop was Borrow Pit Reservoir, a shallow depression just below Painted Rock Dam. It once had picnic grounds and a boat ramp, but that is all gone now. The water here is contaminated with salt, PCBs, DDT, and agricultural fertilizers; a toxic brew that is unsuitable for a fishery or recreation. The road ends with a gate and an impressive array of danger signs numbering a dozen or more.
The original plan was to hike to the summit of Bunyun Peak before dark, as it gets very steep towards the top with some exposed areas; not impossible, but warranting a measure of respect. However, my timetable was off and I ended up trying to make it by flashlight. Progress was slow and I stopped about 1/2 mile short, setting up 'camp' for the night, with the idea of finishing off the peak in the morning light. After several ant attacks, it did not take long to realize that sleep was impossible. With wounded pride I headed back down the hill, this being my second unsuccessful attempt at the Brunyun.
There is nothing extraordinary about this peak, other than it has a metal water catchment on top of it for bighorn sheep. I was going to check it and make sure things were working properly, water levels, etc. Oh well.
The return trip was uneventful, passing through the dry lake above Painted Rock Dam. The only life that I found was a stink beetle and a lonely rabbit. I had some fun with the spotlight but it only worked for about ten minutes. You pretty much have to lug around a car battery if you want any run time, which is a bit heavy, so I plan on rigging up a home security battery on the next night kick around, maybe even tie it in with my headlamp. Needless to say, it was a long night. |
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