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| Apache Trail Wandering, AZ | |
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| | Apache Trail Wandering, AZ | | | |
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Apache Trail Wandering, AZ
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| Hiking | 3.70 Miles |
981 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.70 Miles | 2 Hrs 36 Mns | | 1.52 mph |
| 981 ft AEG | 10 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Something close, scenic, short and new-to-me was what I had in mind for hiking on another humid morning... and that's just what I got!
I took a quick drive up Apache Trail to a spot just past Apache Gap and began my hike from a pull off with room for a half-dozen vehicles if needed. But on this day, I had it all to myself.
First I climbed up to a highpoint to get a feel for the lay-of-the-land. I figured I'd descend into Willow Creek Canyon and follow the dry creek bed until I got warm enough to loop back to the car closer to the road.
Although I've driven Apache Trail many, many times over the years, I really hadn't taken much time to just wander around, so I made sure to do some of that. Winding along the creek I kept looking for items of interest off one direction or another from the creek, but while there were some nice photo ops, I stuck more-or-less to Willow Creek.
Coming around the corner below a large overlook I noticed a fire ring. It was in the shade and there was a nice breeze so I took a moment to enjoy the view and the momentary coolness. While setting there I heard what first sounded like a series of strong wind gusts blowing through a dense batch of Palo Verde's immediately ahead of me. Thinking it was only the wind, I turned on my camera to capture the sound on video. But then I realized the sound was coming from somewhere past the trees.
So I got up and started walking farther around the corner until I got far enough I realized someone was firing a rifle from somewhere along my intended route. I wanted to continue hiking farther but I didn't want to get shot at, so I turned 45 degrees to the right (aiming nearer to Apache Trail) and slowly but steadily climbing with hopes of seeing where the shots were doing from yet stay out of the line of fire.
Eventually I reached a point when I could tell the shooter was firing out of a small 'bowl' so the sound wasn't so much echoing as curving around so when I first heard them it sounded like high wind gusts. Now that I knew exactly where the shooter was, I saw no need for any contact and ascended a steep slope to detour up, over and around so I could continue hiking farther before looping back. Once I had avoided getting shot at I wandered just a bit more before heading back to Apache Trail. Once there I followed it along the shoulder but off the pavement to avoid being clipped by sightseers and folks pulling boats.
I couldn't believe (actually I can!) how much trash there was along the road, and the variety of stuff. Of course most were beer cans (Bud Light were most numerous) but a close second were glass bottles, followed by everything under the sun (sunglasses galore).
I suppose everyone throws out their glass bottles before they reach the lake where they are prohibited... which probably means they are drinking while driving.
Almost an uneventful drive back down the The Trail... just after the Lost Dutchman State Park turn a Ford pickup came barreling around the corner (I'd guess near 70 mph) over halfway into my lane with his tires just barely starting to squeal. It was a good thing I was paying attention and there was room for me to go off the road without anything more than taking out the end of a few branches from a Palo Verde tree, but even so, I doubt we missed by more than a couple inches.
Oh yeah, now I'm barely around the corner and here comes a red Dodge pickup going just as fast but at least staying on his side.
I hope they were racing to see who could go off Apache Trail in the worst possible spot and do the most end-o's... ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") And I hope they both win. 
God forbid they hit one of the sightseers or boaters on the Trail. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
