| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 8.00 Miles |
1,391 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.00 Miles | 8 Hrs | | 1.60 mph |
| 1,391 ft AEG | 3 Hrs Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | What a Trip!  Wasn't too hot, well marked Trail, fast flowing Creek, beautifully clear Turquoise Water complete with Trout, awesome swimming holes, incredible Waterfalls, Monsoon Storms, Rainbows, almost complete solitude in a popular place and to top it off, more Sunset Monsoon Storms and Rainbows!!! 
First time I've been here, and I somehow assumed that the TH is right off Fossil Springs Road. That is not the case. You actually turn off onto another road and drive about 1/4 to 1/2 mile to the Parking area. I was thinking that the Road Closure was before the TH and I drove all the way to the barricades before turning around and taking the other road. The side road is marked, but I just got confused....  The dirt portion of Fossil Springs Road is very rough and rutted. It was a pretty rough ride.
Finally got to the TH a little over an hour later than I wanted. I feared it would be pretty warm today, even up there. It ended up being ok on the way down as there was still plenty of shade to be had on the Trail. The Trail was in good shape, although it was pretty rocky, especially the last mile, which is also the steepest part. I'm not a big fan of alot of loose Rock on the Trails, but today, it actually saved my butt on the way back up... 
Got to the Junction of Fossil Springs and Mail Trail in good time and was really looking forward to seeing the Creek. I made another assumption and was truly shocked when the Trail crossed the Creek and it wasn't running. Just some large Pools were in existence. I guess I assumed that the Flow started alot further upstream. I actually panicked a little. I got to thinking that I had just Hiked 3 1/2 miles down a Trail, knowing that it was going to be a pumpkin going back out, and the Creek wasn't flowing at all!!!  At this point, I didn't stay on the Trail, but instead, started Hiking/Boulder Hopping down the Creek. And then absolute relief hit when I encountered the Spring itself and the Water was flowing great!!!
It must be one huge Spring underneath that Creekbed, it was coming up in quite a few places. Very impressive!!! I took a break here, just savoring the sound and appreciating the Water. Went ahead and soaked for a few minutes in a shallow pool, as it was pretty warm by this time, took some pics and then continued Boulder Hopping down the Creek. Didn't get very far and encountered a nice little Waterfall with a gorgeous Turquoise/Teal Pool below that looked deep. Made my way around and down and took some more pictures and explored the area a little bit and then took a great swim in crisp, cool Water that was well over my head...
After a bit, time to go, more to see, but the Creek would not really allow me to Boulder Hop anymore without swimming. Since my Pack is not Waterproof yet, I grabbed the Trail at this point and followed it for awhile, taking a few paths back down to the Creek, when I could. Ran into some serious Berry bushes on some of these paths. At first, I thought they were Raspberry, but when I bit into a Red one, it was sour. Then I started seeing Black ones on the same stem and they were very sweet, so I'm assuming these were Blackberry Bushes???
After the side Trips and meandering, I finally arrived at the Big Falls, where the Dam used to be. What a sight!!!  I spent a ton of time here, between the Pool below the Falls themselves and some of the Pools just a bit further down. In the Pools further down, there was a very large Cave, that the Water actually flowed into and the Water looked very deep. The Cave was on the other side of the Creek and it looked impossible to access, even from the other side, without swimming. There was a small Waterfall pointed right at the Cave, so the Current swept the Water into the Cave and then back out. After a little more swimming in the area, I really wanted to get a pic of the inside of that Cave. So I grabbed the camera, and swam with one hand over to a Rock near the entrance. I still couldn't get the picture I wanted, due to the Lighting difference and I notice a submerged log very close to the Entrance. I did my one-handed swim over to the Log and managed to straddle it and got a couple of pics of the inside of the Cave. The Cave is really big and went back quite a ways. Then, I almost got into trouble. I started to "dismount" the slippery, moss covered log, and fell into the Water on the Cave side. There was a strong current there and it immediately started to sweep me into the Cave. Not good, in my book. Who knows what the Currents are doing in there. It took everything I had to just get back to the Log and I almost had to drop my Mom's camera into the Water to do it!!! Juuussttt a little bit of an unwanted adrenalin rush there!!!
After I got done trying to drown myself, I went back up to the Main Falls. There was a couple there, that were Backpacking the area, and before too long and before I left, there were 6 other people who would visit the Falls. That's the extent of the people I saw. There is a part of the end of the Falls that dumps into a deep, round, Rock Bowl, swirls around violently and then the Water exits out the bottom, into the main Creek. You can see the Water and bubbles flowing up in the Main Creek, but the hole where it comes out had to be at least 5 feet below the surface there. There is actually a Rope hanging into the Bowl, but it just didn't look like it was a smart thing to do. After I crossed the Creek above the Falls to check out the Bowl, three Dayhikers showed up and the two guys in the party decided they were gonna jump in. I decided at that point, it was time to leave. Wasn't sure how safe it was to swim in the Bowl and just didn't want to watch in case it went bad...Might be callous of me, not to stick around in case they got into trouble, but there were still a few other people there, so.... 
Decided to Boulder Hop the Creek (more like wading), upstream from the Falls, but finally bailed when it just got too hard and deep. By now, the building Clouds were starting to look pretty serious and the Lightning and Thunder started. Got on the Trail and hadn't even made it to the Mail Junction when it started raining. I was actually happy for the Rain as I was not looking forward to the slog up the Hill in the Heat....Until I got to the Junction and started the first part of the ascent, which is by far, the steepest. I can honestly say now, that sometimes Trails with alot of Rock, loose or not, can be your friend! Wet Clay is a pumpkin on a steep Trail. If it hadn't been for the Rocks, I don't think I could have made it up without going completely off the Trail...Talk about slick!! I'm just glad I was going up, instead of down! Face Plants are alot more graceful and don't hurt as bad when you're going uphill...  (Luckily, I didn't actually do one, or I would have looked like a Red Mudball!)
And to top it off, the wet Trail wasn't the worst problem. Unfortunately, on the steep section, I had to stop quite frequently because my legs were as tight as Piano Strings and several times I was on the verge of going into full blown cramps....I figured it was caused by several things. No Gatorade yet, all of that Boulder Hopping and Wading, and last, probably spending too much time in the coolish water. It was miserable. I never once, had to stop because I was winded, (that's a first), my legs preventing me from going too far to even get winded. 
But somehow, I made it to the area where the severe steepness ends and the Trail takes on a much more gentle slope. I took a big Break here, getting off my legs completely and downing a liter of Gatorade. There was a nice campsite there, so I grabbed a log and rested. There was a very curious structure at this campsite, looks like a giant Bird Feeder with a Tin roof. I got a pic, maybe you guys can tell me???
Got a good rest, felt better and started back up to finish it. Took a couple of more Breaks for the achy legs and finally was within 1/4 mile of finishing. I sat one more time and took a few pictures of the Monsoon storms and a Rainbow that appeared. Then the gnats came out and it was really time to go. If you stopped, they gathered in a Cloud around your face, but I didn't want to spray since I was so close to finishing, so after donating a pint to them, I arrived at the Car. There were 3 Backpackers getting ready to go in, so I chatted with them a minute and then took off.
Unfortunately, the Trail wasn't the only thing that got dicey when it got wet. Fossil Springs Road got a little iffy in places. I could feel the Escape bog down several times in the mud and I had my fingers crossed in several spots. But the Escape did good and I left the dirt road behind....
After a quick stop in Payson, I started the drive back to the Valley. The Monsoon was still in full swing and I ended up stopping 4 times on the way home for pictures. The Sunset with the Monsoon Clouds was incredible...Always a great ending to a good day!!!
I had a blast on this Trip, it wasn't perfect, but that's all part of the adventure.  Definitely will be putting this on my "Return and Return again" list, it is worth the Hike. Fossil Creek is an awesome place, I'm glad I did it, solo and all! |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
|
|
| _____________________
| 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!" |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
