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| Hiking | 5.75 Miles |
521 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.75 Miles | 3 Hrs | | 2.88 mph |
| 521 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | 6 LBS Pack | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | It was a gorgeous Day for a great Hike and awesome Company!!! Got to finally meet Jack, Randy, Howard and Owen!!! Owen, thanks for stopping by to say hello, it was a pleasure to meet you. Sure wish you could have joined us, but I know how Knee problems can be, it was good to see you anyway!!! 
The Party was already well underway when I arrived and after all of the introductions were done, the Photo Ops taken, and the Chit Chat subsided, we were on our way....  Jack took us down a Route that I have never done before and it was very cool, following a small Wash and Canyon down, before intersecting with First Water Creek. There was a nice little Slick Rock area that even had a few Pools, so that was neat too!!! Although you bypass the Ranch when you do this Route, it's much more Scenic than walking the old Ranch Road down. If you wanted, you can always go down the Creek to hit the Ranch.
First time doing this area clockwise as well. It's amazing how different things can look going one direction, versus another...  Got to the Creek and boulder hopped it into the Canyon area. I love that Canyon area, it's so....don't know, can't find the right words for it, but it's just very cool!!!
Jack showed us the Elusive Spring and earned a Beer... I have looked for that thing on both of my previous 2 Trips and just couldn't seem to read the Topo right I guess....Thanks Jack!!! I practically promised him a Keg if he would show me an Elusive Arch, but he actually turned me down...Your secret is safe Kat!!!   Guess I'll have to do some more 'sploring, oh darn! 
Passed through the nice Campground areas near the Spring, and as we were passing by one of the Fire Rings, we could smell it...That didn't seem right to me, so I checked the partially burned log in it and found it to still be pretty warm...We decided that that wasn't acceptable and Van grabbed a large Cup from the Trash Pile in the Fire Ring and went back to the Spring to get some Water. We doused the Log, which really was still burning inside, and dug out the Ashes a little bit to get them wet. I would have taken all of the Trash with me, but I didn't have anything to put it in, I just had my Fanny Pack and no Bag...  Will have to make a return trip to clean that area up, a good excuse to come back into this pretty little area though....
After that deed was done, we continued on and made good time up to the Saddle where we enjoyed the Views for a few, before climbing up into Garden Valley. Always enjoy a good stroll through the Valley and soon we were headed back up Second Water to the 1st Water TH. Before I knew it, we were back to the Cars and some awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies that Jack's wife made...Thanks Pat!!! A few more Photo Ops and then all of us thirsty folk went and invaded the Bluebird Cafe for some well deserved Libations and a bunch of laughs...We loitered there as long as the Management would let us (Jack bribed them with Cookies ), and then we parted ways with promises to meet again....
Thanks for putting this Event together Jack! It was Perfect!!! Now Kat, about that Arch...I know I can't bribe you with Cookies.... |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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First Water Creek |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | | Pools, no flow in small, secondary Canyon NW of the Ranch as well. | | _____________________
| 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!" |
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