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| Hiking | 17.50 Miles |
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| | Hiking | 17.50 Miles | 8 Hrs 30 Mns | | 2.14 mph |
| 20 Mns Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Back in January, I decided to hike this segment as a "birthday present" to myself, and started planning. Little did I know this would be the day of the "Big Storm"! 
As the day grew closer, and I saw the long range forecasts, I really wasn't sure whether I should go or not. So, I asked a few hundred of my closest friends! Here's my forum post "Go or No Go" [ Go or No Go ]
A huge :thanx: to everyone who posted a reply or PM. I appreciate the advice.
Saturday morning, when I got up, the ground in Mesa was still dry - no rain at all. That cinched it. I'm outta here!
My dear sweet trail angel and my son drove up with me. Shortly after leaving Mesa, the rain hit. We dropped off a car at the gate/parking lot on the road into the Bushnell Tanks area. I got into the Suburban, and drove the rest of the way there. It rained off and on all the way to the El Oso/Pigeon Springs Rd intersection. That is where I started hiking from.
When we arrived at the intersection, the wind was blowing so hard, it was raining sideways! I taped up my heel spurs, layered up, donned the rain slicker, and hit the road shortly after 8:00.
The first 4 or 5 miles, I was walking in the clouds, so there wasn't much scenery to look at. My photoset will tell the story.
After a couple hours, I heard an engine sound coming up the road behind me. I stepped off the road and waited for the vehicle to pass. Soon, a white Ford extended cab 4x4 pickup appeared. A young couple were it. As they drove by, I said, "Howdy" to the young lady on the passenger side. She said, "Hi", and they "roared off into the sunset", and I was by myself again.
About an hour later, they came roaring back; this time I said "Howdy" to the young man driving. Those were the only people I saw the entire day. Given the weather conditions, I didn't expect to see anyone, and I didn't.
After a few hours, the clouds lifted, and the wind stopped, and I finally got to see some scenery. It's very nice up there. I enjoyed being in the pines.
Finally, I came to turnoff, where the trail exits the road, and starts heading down the canyon.
The trail was very easy to follow - just keep your eyes open for the rock cairns and carsonites. I did notice that in numerous places, the trail seemed to be only as wide as a bike tread. It made me wonder how often bicyclists ride down this trail.
About 2 or 3 o'clock, I started hearing thunder coming from the ridge I had just left. Whew! I wouldn't like to be up there during a thunderstorm!
It rained off and on all day long. That's why there are so few pictures. I was afraid of getting the camera wetter that it already was! There were no "gully-washers". It would rain for 5-10 minutes then stop for an hour or so. On again, off again.
The numerous crossings of Boulder Creek were all dry. Yes, the ground was wet from the rain, but there was no water running.
The only running water I saw the entire day was Sycamore Creek. Oh yeah, it was running all right.
Following the advice of John, one of the trail stewards, I went downstream about 50 yards, and found some boulders to hop across the creek on. Then it back upstream to the trail.
Near the end, I did see some boot prints in the mud. So, someone else had been out on the trail earlier that day.
I finally reached the big AZT sign just before the trail goes under Hwy 87. There, they have built an access trail down to the road that leads to the gate/parking lot.
That means I had to cross Sycamore Creek - again!  But this time, there were no handy boulders. I found a "relatively" quiet spot in the stream, faced upstream, and using my hiking poles for balance, carefully sidestepped my way across the stream.
There were a couple of rock cairns on the other side, but I lost the trail completely. So, I had bushwhack my way through the catclaw to the road. :yuck:
I arrived at the car at about 4:30. I had a towel and some dry clothes stashed in the car. I had planned on stripping off all my clothes, drying off with the towel, and dressing in the dry clothes for the trip back to Mesa. But, when I arrived at the car - you guess it - it was raining. Of course. :oplz:
So I threw all the muddy stuff on the floor, and got into the car wet.
Thankfully, there is cell reception there at Sunflower, so I called my wife and let her know I was safe and sound.
I started the hike with 5 quarts of water and Gatorade. I only drank about 2 quarts. Given the cool rainy conditions, that's not surprising.
I was never cold - soaking wet, yes, but the hiking kept me warm. As I recall, the temperature was about 45 degrees when I started.
Google Earth says: "Elev Gain/Loss: 2125 ft, -4382 ft".
AZT by the Numbers:
Miles Hiked: 135.1
Miles To Go: 664.9
Percent Complete: 16.87%
Segments Hiked: 6
Segments To Go: 36 |
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