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| Hiking | 6.30 Miles |
2,200 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.30 Miles | | | |
| 2,200 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Grasshopper and BeeBee suggested a hike to this peak in the Superstition Mtns. Cannondalekid preceded us to the peak on 1/10/2014 and we made good use of his gps track on the way up which kept us out of the worst of the brush. Grasshopper asked me to plot an alternate planning track for us to follow going back down the mountain which I did using Google earth, Mytopo and some of CK's photos as a guide. This made the hike a lollipop loop The route planning worked out well and the combination of good company, great weather and awesome views of the eastern Superstitions made this a hike to remember.
Our hike started at Quail Spring in Millsite Canyon. We followed Cannondale Kids gps track for the drive. The last 1-2 miles were rough with high clearance 4x4 required. With 4 people in my FJ I was glad the FJ had the 2 inch lift modification made in mid-January. No clanging rocks hitting the underside on this trip. The first two miles of the hike were made easy by the old jeep trails. Then it was a mostly thorn free bushwack if you detoured around the catsclaw for a short way up the side canyon before breaking out onto the fairly open higher ridge side. There was plenty to see along the way. I was tempted to explore a cave on the way up but decided I should conserve energy for the primary objective - a good decision. A telephoto view of the cave opening did not reveal anything of interest as was the case for another cave nearer the top.
We took a leisurely break on the peak with BeeBee setting up his Ham radio gear and contacting other ham operators all over the country. After a long lunch and lots of picture taking we packed up for the trek down the alternate return track I had plotted. We stayed fairly close to the planning track but with a lot of zig zagging following a maze of downward slopping wide ledges that luckily were interconnected providing a path through the many cliff like rock outcroppings. I wouldn't recommend taking this route on the way up to the top but it made for a great return loop.
On the way home GH, BeeBee and I stopped at the La Casita in AJ for a most delicious Mexican dinner at a very reasonable price. Thanks, BeeBee, for recommending it. It was crowded so it took a while to get our meals but it was worth the wait. |
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Route Editor
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