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| Hiking | 3.92 Miles |
735 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.92 Miles | 3 Hrs 3 Mns | | 2.20 mph |
| 735 ft AEG | 1 Hour 16 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Well, guess it was bound to happen. All these years hiking and finally, today, I saw a Gila Monster in the wild. I estimate it was 3 feet in length and 6-8 inches at its widest. It was moseying away from me, up a sandy wash. I followed it a ways off-trail until it vanished into heavy brush. When I got too close once, it stopped and turned its head toward me. But no drama, really.
Very pretty desert area. Saw lots of birds, wildflowers, at least six cottontails, two squirrels and heard Gambel's quail in the bush. Shot a photo of a Northern Flicker peeking out from a Saguaro hole. This is a nice undulating loop trail, well-maintained with little rock, as it winds through heavy flora on Cone Mountain's north side and then through granite boulders on the west and south. Came across three bikers, three joggers and one other hiker in the two hours I was out on the loop. Had a leisurely lunch atop one of the boulders, with a squirrel eye-balling my sandwich from a high spot 25 yards away.
This was my fourth trip to the Brown's Ranch TH since it opened last fall. I'd come more often if it wasn't 35 mi from home. It's a little piece of Eden. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
