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| Hiking | 4.50 Miles |
2,008 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.50 Miles | 4 Hrs 31 Mns | | 1.14 mph |
| 2,008 ft AEG | 35 Mns Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | With two hikes mapped out I set off for the western Sierra Ancha area, I would do one or both hikes depending on the weather. As I headed east on FR71 from Punkin Center the skies gave me the feeling I'd have time for only one hike. The shorter hike would have entailed a longer drive (time, not distance) somewhat closer to the incoming weather so I went for a shorter drive and the more challenging hike, Boneyback Peak.
Rather than begin at the hike description trailhead from the east I approached from the north. I anticipated to pass through some thick brush to approach the first wash but was pleasantly surprised that last night a gully-washer created a nice wide path for me, devoid of any brush. While that was nice, the humidity from the overnight rains had not dissipated one bit so I already knew I was in for a sweat-drenched hike. In my attempt to put the worst of it off for a while, I took my sweet time.
Yeah right, like that would help?
Once I crossed the washed-out creek it wasn't long before I found a well-beaten game trail, and would continue on one a myriad of linked game trails all the way out, spending probably 95% of the time on a game trail. No bushwhacking through thick brush for me! (that would change on the return trip)
By time I reached a saddle just east of Peak 5531 I was fully soaked in sweat so I decided to skip it and head directly for Boneyback, only climbing 5531 on the return trip... if I felt like climbing more on the return trip.
From the upper saddle to Boneyback summit was easy enough so that went quickly. Being thoroughly drenched before reaching the summit I quickly took the usual panorama photos before taking time to pretty much strip off, wring out and hang every to dry... if only there was more than a wisp of wind and the humidity had dropped more. I waited over 30 minutes before putting everything back on and I ended up with some items dry and stiff while others were damp and icky-feeling.
Oh yeah, after suiting-up again NOW the sun peeks out... so I figured I'd get a second group of panorama shots and see which turn out better.
(The second pan set is on the HAZ photoset and all 77 photos are on my website as usual.)
Ok, I hear the thunder louder now so it's time to get moving. While it looked steeper up to Peak 5531 than I wanted to tackle on the way out, on the return across the upper saddle it didn't look bad at all. By time I got halfway up I realized why it looked steep before, because it WAS steeper! Ok, I'm up to the summit of Peak 5531 so I might as well shoot another panorama set. then I made another bad decision... descend down the even steeper slope directly east, instead of retracing my route back to the upper saddle and follow the deer trail back down.
Once back down to the lower saddle it seems I just wasn't going to learn... with the thunderstorms getting closer I thought I'd take a more direct route instead of following the route I took on the way up. While it was 'more direct' as in a straighter line, it was by far the tougher route, and I'm sure took longer than if I'd simply back-tracked and followed the game trails down. Instead I had the joy of crossing several deep drainages and passing through many thick fields of prickly-pear cactus. Luckily I only managed to brush against one, picking up several dozen of the fine spines that went through my pants like nothing was there. Thankfully after pulling up the pant-leg I saw they were in a tight bunch so it didn't take much to get them all out.
Back to the car I saw the sky getting even more ominous so there was no way I'd be trying to pick up the short hike as well. A couple minutes drive back on FR71 and I came upon a mule deer standing in the road just staring at me. I had my camera right next to me, but the windshield was so dirty I knew I'd have to turn to the right and shoot out the side window and I rolled to the side, just in time to see the deer jump up the road-side bank. Oh well, but after I drove around the corner there's the deer with its back to me turning it head to the side... so it looked more like a kangaroo. With the sky so dark behind me and overcast behind the deer I knew it would pretty much be a silhouette but took a few shots anyway. That was the only wildlife I saw, although I did scare up something big, probably another deer just before returning to the trailhead.
Heading back out FR71 I could see a downpour on the other side of AZ 188 just north of Mount Ord, but it had dissipated by time I get back to Punkin Center so I had a dry drive all the way until I was southbound on AZ 87 passing by Slate Creek, when it gave my Jeep a well-needed wash since it rarely gets one.
3-minute Boneyback Peak summit panorama is here:
[ youtube video ] |
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