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| Hiking | 6.50 Miles |
700 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.50 Miles | 5 Hrs 12 Mns | | 1.25 mph |
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| no partners | | Drove up in the dark to get a sunrise start. Turned out to be cloudy so the sunrise never panned out. Parked at the green gate to JF and headed off for a clockwise loop. About two minutes in I turned around and went looking for my gaiters as I've seen Whetrock from the ridges above. Realizing I hadn't brought 'em I opted for the trekking poles.
I headed out with a programmed route to ease into 192B. Heading down into Whetrock via the old road is pleasant. Passed a dumped atv after the upper mine. The road fades out at the lower mine. Up to this point I was rating this hike a fabulous 4!
The next 1.25 miles to Fraser Canyon took about 3 hours in shorts. I stayed in the canyon bottom as much as possible. Had to climb out maybe four times to avoid thickets. The flora requirement for Whetrock is all plant life must have thorns. Not little prickly thorns, we're talking skin rippin' man stopping force thorns. After the first hour the stabbing almost became therapeutic.
Whetrock never seemed to end. There's a few nice stretches of slick rock in various deep red hues. I crossed paths with one of the nicest looking Pinon Pines I've ever seen. This healthy bad boy was protected by the canyon and grew straight as a post but wider than most. It was raining at the time so I didn't get a photo. I bent over to avoid a limb and thought I felt my sunglasses falling off. A quick check and they were still on my cap.
About five minutes down the canyon I realized I didn't have my left trekking pole. I believe it fell out near the pine as it was stowed in my pack. I couldn't stomach turning around even for a minute and figured I could really use a new pair anyhow!
Whetrock just never seemed to end. It was good to the last drop in thickets of razor sharp thorns. Heading up Fraser it started to really pour. The pain of Whetrock continued as the water ran down the scrapes. Saw a few horses at JF and finished the hike and headed home through the atv crowds.
I'm glad I went but I hesitate to recommend. |
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