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| Hiking | 5.00 Miles |
2,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.00 Miles | 4 Hrs | | 1.25 mph |
| 2,000 ft AEG | | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Not your ordinary SK hike....
John9L/Chumley/Goyaah and I had a planned trip across the Tonto from Grandview to South Kaibab. After purchasing the 2 night permit, I soon discovered that my 2 daughters had their annual Nutcracker ballet performance that same weekend  , so I had to back out (or go and turn in my "Daddy Card").
John was concerned about the shuttle ride from SK, back to his vehicle at Grandview when they got out...I offered to help but HAD to come up with some kind of small Canyon hike to make the trip worthwhile...
I remember reading (in Wayne Tomasi's FINE GC book) about a Ford Pinto that was found below the Coconino (east of Cedar Ridge) with two bodies. The following information is from "Death in the Canyon", I presume this Pinto was the standard Hertz rental back in '74, but I couldn't confirm if this was the very same suicide.
On February 2, 1974, Stephen S. Steiner, 24, and Peggy J. Horner, 31, drove to Yaki Point at the Canyon on their prized motorcycle, rented a Hertz car, then in an apparent suicide pact, drove it off the rim at high speed, plunging 1,500 feet below.
Anyway, I've hiked past Cedar Ridge several times since reading and ALWAYS wanted to go look for this vehicle. Since I had to wait on those HAZ slowpokes...my macabre plan was to get to Cedar Ridge early and spent most of the morning finding the Pinto.
The exploring was TOUGH and included nasty bushwack on a steeply angled Hermit Formation. Lots of rocks, cactus and overgrowth made for a VERY slow and dangerous traverse. I crossed several steep drainages...each time thinking....it could just be over the next ridge, then I would downtalk myself as I was really looking for a needle in a haystack. I was just about to quit and return defeated and disgusted...when something caught my eye. THAT WAS IT!! I think I found it!! (see pics).
WHEW....nasty hike...but the discovery was VERY, VERY satisfying....
I carefully hiked back to Cedar Ridge (found a great, intact skeleton..elk..I believe)(see pics)...and waited for the gang to return from their backpacking adventure. About an hour later, I watched Vince blaze up...(I swear that dude hikes faster uphill than I do down..amazing)...we talked briefly but he was in the zone; so he and that nasty, sweaty beard sped off to top...
John was about 30 minutes behind; we hiked up together waving to Chumley who was bringing up the rear along with a nasty headache (gee, I wonder how he got that?).
Anyway, I was very happy I found the Pinto, and also glad I could help out some buds...
We finished up the day at Nimarco's Pizza in Flagstaff (highly recommend)...except veggie-power Vince, who went to Macy's for some granola. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
