| |
| Long Wet Beaver Bell Loop, AZ | |
|
| | Long Wet Beaver Bell Loop, AZ | | | |
|
|
Long Wet Beaver Bell Loop, AZ
| | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 18.72 Miles |
3,244 AEG |
| | Hiking | 18.72 Miles | 9 Hrs 44 Mns | | 2.24 mph |
|
|
| 3,244 ft AEG | 1 Hour 22 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | |
|
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | The Wet Beaver area has been on my list for a long time. Preferring loop hikes, I decided to tie in Long Canyon #63. Not seeing any published GPS tracks for the Long Canyon trail, I thought this would be a good opportunity to get one out on HAZ. I read about the lack of trails after the fact.
The drive up from the valley takes you through the Verde Valley. We had some concerns when driving through here, since the winds at Slide fire in Sedona had changed directions and filled the Valley with so much thick smoke, it was hard to see and could be tough to breath if hiking in this. Luckily, the closer we got to our trail, the thinner the smoke got. We only smelled it a couple of times on our hike.
We started our hike in a small lot just off FR618H, just down the street from the Beaver Creek Ranch. Joe tells me this is a house for Bad Kids. (First Hand Knowledge?) This is on the SE side of Beaver Creek.
The Long Canyon Trail #63 (not the #122 which is also in Sedona) grabs you right from the beginning with it's uphill. The majority of the elevation is gained in the first 1.5 miles. At the 2 mile mark there is a sign that warns you the trail is hard to follow after this point. Between Rock Basket Cairns and Tr 63 Carbonite signs, we made it in 6.6 miles before losing it.
You get some nice high desert views up top, as well as views into Long Canyon. With a drawn up track, we made our way over to the intersection with the Bell Trail and checked out the old out buildings. Joe got his picture taken by a Game Camera.
The Bell Trail #13 at this point follows an old 2 track going to the NW....for awhile. This lasts for a mile, until the two track just ends. We followed the drawn track through what could have been a trail at one time for .75 mile until we once again had trail. Views the closer you get to the Rim in the NW corner of the Mesa are spectacular. I saw some new areas in the Wet Beaver area that I need to explore, east of The Crack looks enticing!
Going down towards The Crack on the Bell Trail, we passed our first hikers of the day. Joe scared them off. We went off trail a couple of times on the way down, to get some views into The Crack area. There were a dozen or so people enjoying the water.
I see why the Wet Beaver area is so popular. There are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the water and the scenery. Joe pointed out one area of Tafoni that was particularly interesting.
We hit the short Wier Trail #85 to get under the Trees and get into the Creek for a bit. Joe played with a Torpedo while looking for his bolt cutters.
We also went off trail crossing the creek, to get back to the truck. There were some red slick rock areas that would be fun to play in with more time. Joe played Tarzan for a bit and we made our way back to the truck.
All in all, a fun day in the Wet Beaver Wilderness.... an area that needs some more attention, especially upstream from The Crack area.
Short Video  http://youtu.be/kUN_Qn7Ty2Q |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
|
|
 |
Long Canyon |
Dry |
Dry |
| | Dry in the upper portions. Not sure about the lower portions.
Noticed some pooling in the very lower portions |
  |
Long Canyon Tank |
26-50% full |
26-50% full |
| | | I guess you could filter it if you wanted. Too many Bovine and other animals using the area for my liking. |
|
Roundup Basin Tank |
26-50% full |
26-50% full |
| | | I guess you could filter it if you wanted. Too many Bovine and other animals using the area for my liking. |
|
Trail Tank |
26-50% full |
26-50% full |
| | | I guess you could filter it if you wanted. Too many Bovine and other animals using the area for my liking. | | _____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
