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| Backpack | 21.00 Miles |
3,000 AEG |
| | Backpack | 21.00 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 3,000 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | One part of the Supes I haven't explored much is the southeast corner, and I figured the time had come. I left Pinto Creek TH in mid-morning and made it to the corral by the Tony Ranch by mid-afternoon, which gave plenty of time to poke around and take pictures. (Although the big, barren camping area is kind of sad).
The next morning, I intended to try the Bull Basin loop, knowing it would be brushy. About half a mile after the turnoff from #203, enjoyment was waning and my rate of progress wasn't good enough to beat sunset, unless the Paradise Trail was a lot more clear than the Bull Basin Trail, which wasn't an assumption I was willing to make. I went to Plan B: backtracking to #203, and taking an off-trail route across the ridge to Government Hill (5445) described by Carlson and Stewart.
The route was mainly game trails, with a few stretches of old cowboy trails thrown in, so the pace was slow. However, the views were outstanding, including a clear shot straight north to the Sierra Anchas. To the south, I could see FR650 climbing hills to the southwest, but taller mountains walled off the highway. I made a slight mistake on the return, starting downhill too early and got cliffed out. I had to go about 300 feet back up on game trails to get around it, but before long I was back in camp.
Monday night it got a lot colder. I put my filter in my sleeping bag as a precaution, and I'm glad I did, because most of my water was frozen by morning. I don't know how cold it was, but it made for a very slow start in the morning. I kept having to stop and thaw out my fingers before the next activity. I was pretty much waiting for the sunshine to reach the canyon before heading out, which I finally got around to doing.
One thing I really wanted to do on the way out was find the Periz homestead described by Carlson and Stewart. The graphic suggested it was on the far side of Pinto Creek, a little upstream from the remains of a building near the road. I spent about an hour thrashing through the brush. Eventually I met with bovine opposition. I didn't see them, and they didn't see me, but they must have heard me, because I set off a minor stampede. I retreated back downstream and to the road, deciding to abandon my goal. After a couple hundred yards, my courage revived (without good reason), and I made another attempt from farther downstream, coming up as far as I dared on the other side of the creek. As the cow pies got fresher, I grew more more leery, and I didn't see any promising signs. I don't know if the structure is really still there or not.
Finally, the description mentioned some mining claim markers on painted on the concrete foundation of the Iron Bridge near the trailhead. They really are there, although there's no sign of recent placer mining.
I didn't see anyone the whole time. Wildlife was scarce, too. There were some deer, and some deer distress calls during the night, but not much else.
I might post photos after I get home.
Addendum: Carlson and Stewart mention a cowboy trail leading south from the ranch to to FR342. It must still get some use, because it wasn't hard to follow, at least for the first quarter mile. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
Sycamores still have good color, but it won't last much longer. |
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Tony Ranch Spring |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| | | The flow was good and there was plenty of water in the trough. I cleaned out the leaves. | | _____________________
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