Route Editor
Route Scout
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DESTINATION Merritt Draw Loop (Lower) - Mogollon Rim 5 Photosets 2019-06-14 2015-09-02 2014-06-13 2012-08-25 2012-08-25 |
| HAZ Member Oregon_Hiker's 626 Photosets 2012-10-11 2012-09-28 2012-09-27 2012-09-26 2012-09-20 2012-09-10 2012-08-31 2012-08-25 2012-08-24 2012-08-23 2012-08-13 2012-08-11 2012-08-10 2012-08-10 2012-07-19 2012-07-17 2012-07-17 2012-07-15 2012-07-14 2012-07-12
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Of course I'm sure none of the HAZ members would drive like that. 
We hiked a short distance from camp up FR139C until we reached an unused spur road that would take us over to Merritt Draw. We used Grasshopper's GPS track from the Merritt Draw Upper Loop hike and his cairns to guide us off trail down the hill side to the bottom of the draw.
There was a cave on the east side a short distance down the draw. It looked to be deep so I went to investigate. The inside of the cave curved out of sight to the right. Not knowing what might be lurking back there I did not go in to investigate. There were frequent pools and flowing water throughout much of the draw. We saw at least three elk carcasses with the bones scattered over some distance. One still had some meat left on the bone and was located on the bank of a pool. Evidence that there is a large predator working this area. Further down the draw we encountered fallen logs and pools bordered by cliffs that slowed our progress. We stopped for lunch at the confluence of the draw with Barbershop Canyon. The U-Bar Trail crosses Barbershop Canyon at this point. There was flowing water coming down Barbershop - looked fishable but I didn't see any fish lurking in the depths.
We paid our respects and started the walk back to camp on FR139C. This is a pleasant scenic hike along the top of the ridge. We spooked 6 ducks off of a water tank beside the road which were the only wildlife we saw on this trek. Arriving back at camp we found Mazatzal and wife who had just arrived. We roused Trishness who was sound asleep in the back of her SUV and gathered at Grasshoppers kitchen tent to enjoy his vast and tasty selection of hors d'oeuvres - another benefit to using Grasshopper Camp as a starting and ending point for a hike.