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| Hiking | 9.75 Miles |
2,800 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.75 Miles | | | |
| 2,800 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | OK, so it's been quite awhile since I've had a trip with such a series of self induced mishaps that I'm not ashamed to admit it when it happened this past weekend. The last such trip was a few years ago, also in November, hmmm.
I made the early drive into Miles TH and arrived just as the sun was coming up. The road was good to Haunted Canyon, but soon after turned rather crappy. I don't see how a Mustang made it there. I set off down West Pinto and was pleasantly surprised by the condition of the trail. I've heard other trails in this area described as Cuff Nasty and Leg Shredding, but so far I liked what I saw. As I approached Oak Flat I heard the unmistakable sounds of Boy Scouts running around up ahead. I stopped only briefly to talk to the leaders before continuing on just a few yards to the turn off for Pinto Peak trail (mishap #1). I missed it somehow and continued on W. Pinto. The next mile or so was pleasant and the trail just fine. Then, it got rough going. I kept going about 3-4 miles until I crossed a nice flowing creek and I decided to take a quick break and filter some water. (Mishap #2) water filter broken. Not sure how it happened, been using this one for 4 years. The water was clear and cold so I drank some anyway. I literally saw bear scat on the trail every 100 yards or so. More than I have ever seen before. I continued on but was concerned that I was travelling pretty much due west and I was sure I should be going more north. The trail closed in quickly and at one point I was stuck, both legs and both arms were snagged so badly I came to a complete stop. I have never seen it this bad. I was now pretty sure that I should have made it to the Fireline trail by now. I think I was pretty close to Rogers Trough at this point. I did a 180 and headed back through the nasty, nasty, nasty, brambles to the spot where I first stopped for water. This was a nice area though. I considered stopping right here for the night since it offered a great camping spot that had obviously been used before. I didn't stop (Mishap #3). Several hours later I made it back to Oak Flat and was of course out of water by now or I would have camped there. I knew I had only 2 miles or so to go so I pushed on. Now I remembered Tough Boots triplog saying that he finished this section of his hike via headlamp. With about 1 mile to go I stopped to break mine out. (Mishap #4), no headlamp. Dumb Pumpkin! As the light faded I could hear campers in the distance but it was pitch dark at 6:30. I wrapped some dry grass around a sycamore branch, lit an empty plastic water bottle on fire, and melted it onto the end of the stick for a make shift torch that got me just far enough to see the end of the faint road near the ranch. Stumble-stepping, I followed the road towards a fire in the distance and the voices of happy campers. Sorry if I startled you and thank you for not shooting me. I made it to my truck and headed for home, as I was now looking forward to trimming 4 giant bougainvillea bushes the next day. And some how that was better than hiking that trail again. I'd like to add nipple ripping, and knee gnashing, to the trail descriptions. I'll amend this triplog if the water I drank makes me sick (Mishap #5) that will be.
You just can't make this stuff up. BLNT... |
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