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| Hiking | 9.73 Miles |
3,495 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.73 Miles | | | |
| 3,495 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | What a day! Actually wanted to get up before sunrise, but that was thwarted when I went past my exit on the freeway on autopilot and got off on Broadway instead of Brown. I drove through Dutchman trail or whatever Brown turns into and ended up on Mckellips pulled over.  No ticket or warning, just wanted to make sure I wasn't drunk because I guess it's an epidemic in that area and this officer pretty much pulls everyone over at 4:30am. He left me telling me to be careful "lots of folks get lost in the Supes while hiking". Got there about 5:15 and headed up. There was no wind and it felt like Louisiana in the humidity department. Took a break for a minute and felt a sharp pain on the top of my left thigh. Pulled my shorts up to see a stinger pulsing in my leg. What the hell is up with me and bees, wasps, etc.?
Had decided on the way up I wanted to try to find a loop instead of coming down the same way I went up. Remembered reading someone had done or attempted to do this.
Had Flatiron and Superstition Peak to myself. Read a little and relaxed and took in the hazy views. Coming down Superstition Peak I realized I was missing one of my water bottles that was hanging on the outside of my pack. I retraced my gps track to Flatiron and down the peak the way I went up with no success. I headed on the Ridgeline trail and dropped into the first Canyon I could. I totally planned on having to climb back out.
About a quarter of the way down the first wash I stepped on a car size rock which dislodged and both the rock and I fell several feet. I slowed way down after this not trusting anything I stepped on. Pretty much the scariest moment I've had hiking or climbing. About 15 minutes later two sets of Buzzards started taking shifts and riding thermals above waiting for a meal.
Anyway, there were a few down climbs requiring some bouldering and problem solving. It was steep and there were 4 choices of drainages once I got below the really steep section. I chose a sheep trail down to the wash above Monument Canyon. There were no cairns until I reached Monument Canyon. My plan was to connect to Jacobs Crosscut to get back to my truck. My watch read between 106-110 in the canyon on the way out. I came across a couple pieces of airplane wreckage and took pictures of the big piece. I will have to reread the photosets for the details, but at this point in the hike I was at the I just want to be done it's too hot for this hike mode. I ran out of water as I got on Jacobs Crosscut. I swear that trail seems like it never ends. I didn't like it in the dark and I didn't like it when I was thirsty. There you have it a loop not to be done in August.  |
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