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| Hiking | 4.19 Miles |
860 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.19 Miles | 3 Hrs | | 1.40 mph |
| 860 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Great day on the slopes of the Toroweap with the Hippy.
Day started with me picking up a CLOBBERED Hippy at her home in GC; appeared Saturday evening was a just a tiny bit crazy. While Hippy was coming to her senses, I was fortunate enough to meet and talk extensively with one of her mountain bike roomies, Paul, who later politely rejected Hippy's offer to join us since he had just come off a 3 day trip of his own.
We found a great parking spot at the BA trailhead, and meandered down past the 2nd tunnel to the "tie-off" just below the Kaibab. The trail on the Toroweap formation and beyond the signage was relatively easy for the first 1/4 mile or so...then it got rather nasty and require constant concentration and caution. There were various sections that required a bit of remembrance from Hippie (good thing she didn't kill any brain cells the night before), but pushing through one wrong path usually found the next correct one nearby; much like the Battleship route on the Supai.
Oddly, we came across a cow elk about a mile out on the hike. Can't imagine this thing coming any other way down other than the Bright Angel then across the Toroweap, the Kaibab seems much to steep. Was the strangest thing to see and it required gingerly manuevering to work around her without spooking and causing a disaster.
The "crux" of this hike was traversing a severely slopped, and slippery gravel talus JUST above the top of the shear Coconino; a several hundred foot fall being only a few feet away. Check the video below. (BTW, I need physical proof that 9L actually did this section!!)
https://www.youtube.com/embed/KCE5_WKNCx8
The absolute scariest part of the trip was when I reached down to take a picture and discovered my $400 dollar hiking camera suddenly missing...I had visions of it being shattered at the bottom of the Coconino and all my pictures lost for eternity! I backtracked to the last brushey section looking primary down slope and praying for mercy. I soon found the camera about 30 yards back hanging on a limb in a Gambling Oak that I had just painfully pushed my way through. The limb must have caught the lanyard and pulled it right outta the pouch!!!! WHEEEEWWWWW 
We reached the middle section of Orphan mine and checked out the artifact from the cable operator's shack. After a quick PB&J Burrito, we climbed the VERY steep Upper Hummingbird marked with pink frilly thingies (see photo)...
Afterwards, Hippy, her pal Wendy and I went to BA Cafe for some grub. I had the spaghetti and meatballs, Hippy had the babybacks with a side of veins and tendons. 
Was a very fun (albeit chatty day); always is with Ms. Haley!!
Never a dull moment with the Hippie around! |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
