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| Hiking | 5.90 Miles |
2,119 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.90 Miles | 7 Hrs 20 Mns | | 1.26 mph |
| 2,119 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 40 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Since learning years ago of this large, natural, and remote access Sierra Ancha Wilderness Arch which resides at the lower NE base of "Elephant Rock" http://hikearizona.com/dexcoder=583311 , I had always thought that a well planned off-trail hike to view it up close would be outstanding and today it did not disappoint 
Through the years I had taken a stab at planning various off-trail route ideas for access, but I had never finalized an "out and back" route that I felt physically capable of safely accomplishing. Fortunately, I was able to gain Oregon Hiker (Larry's) interest in this arch via his viewing of a few previouisly posted HAZ pictures and through our exploratory scouting trip to the north Cherry Creek Road (FR203) area back in Nov'13 http://hikearizona.com/photo=373975 .
Now with a good plan in place which included Larry's recommended GPS planning route choice to approach "Elephant Arch" from a Park/TH Start off The Young Highway (Hwy 288 north), and with an additional planned and interesting secondary hike destination http://hikearizona.com/photo=396558 , it was now just a matter of scheduling a suitable good weather day for this higher elevation Sierra Ancha hike (between 6350ft to 6854ft). Due to cold/snow/ice/wetness, normally we would probably not be able to safely attempt this completely off-trail and difficult route finding hike in February, but this year with its unseasonable higher temps and less rain, and after a previously scheduled December'13 date that we needed to cancel, today was the day.
As usual I enjoy telling and showing the hike story via my above posted picture set, pic captions, tag notes, and through my geocoded pics GPS Route. Time to review all this should hopefully give those interested and qualified a good idea of what this most enjoyable & rewarding off-trail hike has to offer. |
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| (Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!") |
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