| |
| Cabin Loop Overnighter, AZ | |
|
| | Cabin Loop Overnighter, AZ | | | |
|
|
Cabin Loop Overnighter, AZ
| | |
|
| Backpack | 18.26 Miles |
2,637 AEG |
| | Backpack | 18.26 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 2,637 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | It's always nice to revisit the Cabin Loop. Last time I backpacked the western loop was a couple of years ago. All the other hikes have been day hikes since. I decided to do a leisurely overnighter of the eastern loop last weekend. I had Friday off, but the forecast was a lot of rain. So I opted for Saturday and Sunday instead.
I parked at FR321C and U-bar before noon and started counterclockwise on U-bar. It looked like a lot of storms were brewing when I was driving on the Rim, but they never materialized. The weather was nice and cool - perfect! Wiski was enjoying the cool weather and chasing squirrels and chipmunks. Met 4 kids at the Dane Cabin who were exploring from their car camp. A lady with a dog was camping on the far end of Dane Canyon. There were a lot of people car camping at Pinchot cabin and Houston Brothers' TH. It was certainly a busy weekend.
When I got to Aspen Springs, there were already a family with two tents there. The lady told me that there might not be water a mile out. Remembering the nice flowing water near McFarland Spring where I camped a couple of years ago and the amount of rain we've been getting lately, I decided to take a gamble and keep going.
My gamble totally did not pay off  When I got to the clearing near McFarland Spring at a bit after 16:00, there were already two groups (4 tents) and there was no water. Good thing I was still doing OK on water for the night. And I knew there wasn't any good spot to camp after this on Houston Bros. So I decided to camp there. I think the guy with a dog I met on the way heading the opposite direction probably decided to go back to Aspen Springs to camp for the night because he came back down south again the next morning. Good thing the meadow was huge and we were all pretty far away from each other. The night was beautiful! 
I woke up early the next morning, but wanted to sleep in a bit. Rain came down for about half an hour at 7:00. I was taking my time soaking in the serenity. Broke camp and left at about 9:30. Found water about half a mile down by the trail and filtered some. The hike out was beautiful. Sections on Barbershop were fern Disneyland! Got back to the car at 13:00. A beautiful and relaxing hike it was! |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
