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| Hiking | 13.53 Miles |
1,837 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.53 Miles | 8 Hrs 31 Mns | | 2.07 mph |
| 1,837 ft AEG | 1 Hour 59 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Southbound from Pigeon Springs to Mills Ridge another AZT adventure that was downhill with lots of up and down and down and up and up and down... you get the idea.
Saturday afternoon (after we staged Tonto Jr at the Mills Ridge TH) we continued our drive to Roosevelt, checked in at the Spring Creek Inn (pretty nice place actually) and then headed over to the Dam for our potluck supper. The weather, view of the dam, food and company were all great. After dinner we headed over to the east side of the dam to hopefully see pink hue from the sun setting residual to the east of the bridge which didn't transpire. However, it was cool to see the lit up lights on top of the dam. (See short video of mostly stills from our Dam activity: http://youtu.be/nDbpKP...)
The next morning we headed up El Oso Road to start our hike from Pigeon Springs Th. We passed Karl and Kathy as they were heading to the bottom TH since they were hiking up  the 19.3 mile/7000ft elev trail. At the top where we started it was slightly brisk and slightly breezy but would turn out to be a perfect temperature-day. 14 miles seems a long expectation for the day but off we went with me in pretty serious Tibber movie mode. The trail condition was nice and was that way almost the entire way. There were lots of bushes and we would hike through and by various terrain including a bedrock section, a couple pine sections, a few drainages (some with water), manzanita sections, rock outcropping sections, and burned sections.
We were always delighted to see water especially at Shake Spring (there was also some at Bear Spring earlier); altho Tracy and Shawn said they saw lots more there when they came thru last. We hit the little 500 foot climb that seemed harder for some reason but from there until toward the end, the steeper climbing was mostly done. For as smooth as the elevation profile looks, it didn't quite feel that way. For me the anticipation of finally rounding some corner to see the Four Peaks in my face kept me smiling. And we would continually get glimpses of Roosevelt Lake so that was always nice too.
However, as we rounded one corner I looked into the distance and saw: the Superstitions  . This was such an unexpected surprise. Ambika and I were delighted. Soon after this wonderful discovery we took our morning break to re-fuel. We were right on the trail with a view south to the Supes with Weavers Needle and everything. I also think we were looking at the backside of Tortilla Peak with Newman Peak way beyond but looming large in the background. You could see the trail over on the other side of where we were and Shawn pointed out the saddle we would be heading too. Seemed a long ways off.
Anyway we would be treated to the view of the Supes off and on for awhile until....
THE VIEW finally showed up as we rounded a corner. Tracy and Shawn were waiting for us there to see our reaction. I think my heart stopped for a moment it was so overwhelming  . There they were, the Four Peaks in my face. Needless to say the hike went a bit slower as we contoured along here looking up in total awe at the magnificent mountain scene. We contoured around and then came upon what should be known as the most scenic viewpoint as we once again stopped, gawked and admired those large peaks. I think we were at Black Bear Saddle [ photo ] but not the saddle Shawn had pointed out earlier which is at the 7.87 mark or so.
We continued on, I had a wrestling match  with a sticky plant trying to nab my bandana as I was turning to get a pic of Mt Ord and some of the Mazzies. Soon we would run into Karl, less Kathy. It was noon. I expected we would run into them at 12:30. Kathy was not feeling well so she stayed back at Mills Ridge TH to keep Tonto Jr company. So we stopped where we met and had some lunch, chatted, took pics and then headed on. Karl was going to enjoy his beer at the Bear Saddle area with THE VIEW.
Next we passed the junction with Chillcut before making the saddle Shawn had pointed out a ways back. And now the ever so gentle down hill would begin. We would lose sight of the Four Peaks and now would be back to sightings of Roosevelt Lake  that would come in and out as we contoured below Buckhorn Mountain. We hit some pretty nice trail here so it was smooth sailing really. We did take another break in this section. On these longer hikes, I like a couple breaks in the last miles; just makes those last miles seem less arduous.
Apparently we went by Granite Spring which I didn't even notice  . We hit a bit of a wash area before a short climb up and then the big two mile 1200 foot and what seemed long hill down from the 10 mile mark. That had to be a killer hill on the way up. It did have occasional switchbacks to give your quads some relief. We finally reached Buckhorn Creek only to be faced with an uphill trudge (that really turned out not to be too bad but then again we did stop and check out ruins). Nonetheless, we took our last break here in the dry creek bed though there were some pools of water further down that we could see from higher on the trail.
Shawn said we only had 1 1/4 mile left (Scout said 1.5 left) so with that thot in mind, we were off. Once we got up by the ruins and then up again to the top of this hill, the viewing toward the east was pretty entertaining. Pretty soon we spotted MYTONTO Jr and Kathy so we knew the end was near. We saw quite a few wildflowers scattered about more so here than elsewhere on the hike. I didn't know but Ambika was counting and she got to nearly 30 different wildflowers on this trek. The last couple east hillsides had enormous prickly pear cactus on them sticking up thru the still golden grasses. It was quite impressive.
We reached the end, had some libation and then took Tonto down to the bridge to get Karl and Kathy's vehicle. I got to test drive some of the gears on Tonto Jr so that was fun . I guess we lolly-gagged too much at the TH and Karl ended up meeting us at the bridge instead of Butcher Hook restaurant. So we exchanged greetings and then went back to the restaurant for our post-hike dinner before the drive home.
I think we have a great hiking group and even though we get spread out from time to time, it all seems to work out fine. The nice thing about hiking with Shawn is he knows the trails since he has hiked them before AND he is the big kahuna AZT trail steward. He hikes much harder  than the rest of us as he clears the trail of rocks and debris along the way. I try to do it but it takes awhile to get the hang of clearing off rocks with your feet and branches and such with your hiking pole without losing your balance or your stride. I also like the stories Shawn shares with us and Tracy too when they've done trail work.
Lots of video here but since I don't think this trail sees much action, I felt obliged or is that obligated?
Part 1 of 6 from Pigeon Springs to stone walls holding up the trail: http://youtu.be/zyhG9c...
Part 2 of 6 continuing along and below Brown's Peak: http://youtu.be/HGEMG6...
Part 3 contouring below the Peaks with eventual sighting of Superstitions: http://youtu.be/w4R9O0...
Part 4 and finally the PEAKS: http://youtu.be/OCuzJj...
Part 5 making our way east to the saddle and then on down http://youtu.be/Ql8NXo...
Part 6 from the ruins to Mills Ridge TH http://youtu.be/up96ba... |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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