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| Whiskey Springs - Red Tanks Loop, AZ | | -
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| | Whiskey Springs - Red Tanks Loop, AZ | | | |
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Whiskey Springs - Red Tanks Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 13.40 Miles |
2,400 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.40 Miles | 7 Hrs | | 2.06 mph |
| 2,400 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Last week I attempted to make this hike but took a wrong turn as I approached the Miner's Summit. Actually, it was NOT making a turn that got me in trouble. I came around the left side of large boulders, with Miner's Summit in view straight ahead. At this point the trail became muddled. I saw two stacks of cairns ahead of me. From there I kept heading towards the saddle while continuing to look for cairns. I reached the saddle hoping to find the Whiskey Springs Trail junction. Of course, I didn't find it because I was on the wrong saddle. After going up, down, and around I figured that I wasted too much time so I made the hike a Bluff Springs Loop instead. 
Today, I would try this Whiskey Springs/Red Tanks hike again. As I came left around those same boulders I stopped and surveyed the area. I discovered that I needed to make a 180 degree turn near the two cairn stacks to hike away from the Miner's Summit. Of course, for all of you more experienced hikers you know that from this point its just a few minutes from this point to the Dutchman's/Whiskey Springs junction; lesson learned; hope this helps someone else.
Having started the hike at 8:10 AM, I reached the Whiskey Springs junction at 10:10 AM. I believe I was making good time. I had yet to hike from this point to the Red Tanks/Dutchman's. I was looking forward to it. As I was hiking up a rocky incline I caught a glimpse of something moving on the trail ahead of me - a Tarantula. The first one I had ever seen. Add that to my list of rarely seen critters - Big Horn Sheep, Javelina and Rattlesnake.
I'll try to post a picture or two.
The Tarantula sighting happened just minutes from switching to the Whiskey Springs Trail.
Shortly thereafter, the trail began a gravelly descent which lasted about 5 minutes. It would have been calf burning heading up. I noticed quite a bit of over growth along this trail; not many hikers come this way. It is a connecting trail. For a such a short trail, it sure did give me a lot of trouble, Thankfully, I was wearing blue jeans. Too bad I had a short sleeve shirt. I got bloody scratches on my arms and a few thorns from all the trail over growth; lesson learned, I hope those reading this will take heed.
Even with all the stag horn, prickly pear, and thorny bushes the trail was easy to follow. it seemed like forever before I reached the Red Tanks Trail, but it was just one hour. The up and down of the Whiskey Springs Trail was replaced with more of a flat terrain with a few wash crossings. The Red Tank hills were strikingly littered with saguaros; very good scenery. Even though this trail was also less travelled the desert over growth was not as bad. About an hour along this trail there was a nice grove of trees with a campsite close to a wash. It was not too much longer when I reached the junction with the Dutchman's Trail heading south. Only five or six miles left to go.
Overall.I enjoyed my trek along Whiskey Springs and Red Tanks; very nice scenery, peaceful and quiet. The highlight, tho, was spotting the Tarantula. That I could out run. The rest of the hike was uneventful except I finally came across some other hikers as I was approaching the Bluff Springs/Terrapin junction. The hike up and down nearing the Peralta Trailhead was a little wearisome but all in all a successful conclusion. Next time I will remember to make that 180 degree turn towards the Whiskey Springs Trail.
Thank you for following along with me on my adventure.  |
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