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| Viola-Ives-Santa Maria Loop, AZ | |
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| | Viola-Ives-Santa Maria Loop, AZ | | | |
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Viola-Ives-Santa Maria Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 16.30 Miles |
3,928 AEG |
| | Hiking | 16.30 Miles | 10 Hrs 8 Mns | | 1.78 mph |
| 3,928 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | 16 LBS Pack | | |
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| Partners |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Another run out to the Arrastra wilderness. Attacking Ives Peak had been the last of our three original goals one of our there. I drew up a track that kept us on old jeep roads for the first 4+ miles, then a bushwhack to Violas Peak and finally Ives Peak. I had this planned as an out and back, because to me, none of the routes off to the West, North, or East, looked "DOABLE" (Phrase for the Day Alert)
The hike started just off Rt93, in the Joshua trees. 2 miles in, the focal point is a formation called Shiprock. We contemplated trying to find a way up it, but nothing was obvious, the rock was crumbly, and we were on another mission at the time. The jeep road we were on, starting at Shiprock, is one steep SOB. The road ends 4+ miles out, at the site of 3 tall old water tanks. The steepness does not end, just the road.
We made it up to the area of Violas Peak, but it was another one we were not getting up. It's a small spire with steep walls.
The views to the South at this point were just incredibly vast.
Ives next... The route I'd suggested from TOPO and Satellite views, did not look all that good in person. Joe and John took over and it was time to climb the side. It was not to bad for me, except one spot where I had "A Moment", but before you knew it, we were atop Ives. Luckily the forcasted snow the night before, did not materialize, there was just a dusting on top.
Now it's decision time. In lieu of the planned out and back, Joe talked John and I into making this a loop. Being the Lemurs we are, we followed. "Doable" was heard many times over the next 4 hours. Also the words, "Maybe Not". We headed north off of Ives.
There were were probably 3 "Doable" areas, that I never would have attempted by myself, but Lemur's John and Bruce followed on. After numerous areas of getting cliffed out, we finally made it to a ravine that took us out to the Santa Maria River. In the 3.5 miles, from the high point on Ives, to the Santa Maria River, we'd dropped 2400'.
Time to get wet again. We followed the Santa Maria for 3 miles, in and out of the water. We passed a couple of mining areas on the way. Once out of the Santa Maria, it was all dry land for the next 3.5 miles back to the van.
Video ==> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFB-8CntuXM
Another excellent adventure! It was Doable!
Thanks for driving John. |
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Doable Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Grassy Wet area with a little pooling. Could have been from recent rains | | _____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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