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| Hiking | 2.00 Miles |
300 AEG |
| | Hiking | 2.00 Miles | 2 Hrs | | 1.00 mph |
| 300 ft AEG | | 5 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | After a fun New Year's Day celebration on Vulture's Peak and a cool Tailgate party that followed, everyone split up and went their own ways. I knew I wouldn't have the energy or the time to follow Bob and his Crew around, but I decided that I still had time to hunt for what is now a fairly elusive Arch...  It was a nice, unsuccessful Hike... 
I made two mistakes. First, I should have used my odometer when I turned off the Highway. I didn't, and I probably was not parked at the "unmarked TH" although I'm fairly certain that I was in the right area...There are a ton of little "spur" roads out there past the main RV Camping Sites, so I'm not sure I even turned left down the correct road...I did stop and park where the Road leaves a large Wash and becomes a little dicey, although it appears that past that particular dicey area, the road gets pretty good again.
I hiked up and over a small ridge from where I parked and met up with the road again. I followed it for a bit and then saw a small road go to the left down into and then out of a small wash where it proceeded to end at an outcropping of fairly large boulders. This looked like a nice, and apparently popular Camping area. Some of the Campers seemed to feel the need to tag the boulders though, so it kinda ruined it for me...  However, on the other side of the boulders, there's a Trail and a very defined one at that... I followed the Trail as it was definitely leading in the direction that I wanted to go and seemed to "fit" the Description. It took me around the SW side of a small hill and a Spur went up the hill to a Saddle...Ok, this seems right...Walked all over that hill and didn't see an Arch. Back to the Saddle and climbed the larger hill, which was more like a long flat ridge. I followed the "ridge" all the way, heading NW, looking at both edges...No Arch...Second mistake, should've printed out a picture in Joel's Photoset to match things up with...Oh well, it was getting later than I wanted, so I bushwacked down the West side of the ridge and started making my way back, taking care to keep looking up in case I missed it...Nope, not there.
Ran into an Archery Deer Hunter on the way back. Only person I saw back there. I have always enjoyed the Wickenburg area and now I remember why. It really is a pretty desert area. I thoroughly enjoyed the Hike just for that reason, if for no other... Pretty much made my way back the way I came and drove out. Will have to attempt to find the Arch again, another day, when I'm in the area...
The Drive back to Cave Creek was outstanding. First thing I noticed, although I didn't stop, was all of the Foliage along the Hassayampa River appeared to be in almost Peak Foliage Colors for Autumn. Lots of brilliant Yellows driving along there... Second thing I noticed was Meteorlogical. I guess I need a Bumper Sticker that says "I Brake for Sun Dogs"....  That was "drive home Photo Op #1"...  Third, I'm almost back to I-17 and apparently there was a serious Hot Air Balloon Convention going on...I quit counting after 11...Usually you'll see 2 or 3 in this area, but not today...I had to stop. The combination of Clouds, Sun and Balloons was too hard to resist...Cool ending to a cool day in the Great Outdoors...  |
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| 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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Route Editor
Route Scout
