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| Hiking | 11.76 Miles |
2,001 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.76 Miles | 6 Hrs 27 Mns | | 2.34 mph |
| 2,001 ft AEG | 1 Hour 25 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I was up on Black Top Mesa a couple years ago and not much, if anything, has changed atop the mesa. However, it’s a fun hike and the last ‘re-hab hike’ for Mike, the bionic hip guy. (He’s only in Az in January).
It’s amazing to me that he can hike this far, with this kind of AEG, after having his 2nd hip replacement just three months ago. Good for him.
As many know, the Dutchman and Bull Pass Trails are very nice trails, with only the Black Top Mesa Trail a bit more challenging. The BTM Tr is where most of the AEG comes from, with the trail obviously getting a bit steeper and rockier until atop the mesa. The fact that you transition from desert trail to ‘dirt’ trail going up BTM Tr is an interesting anomaly.
I showed Mike around the top of BTM, including the petroglyphs (or Mexican glyphs) and, what I call ‘graffiti’ glyphs. He was amazed at the huge crop of prickly pear cactus up there, along with the various types of grasses. Photo ops are great in all directions also.
After lunch on BTM, we retraced our steps back to First Water TH, instead of looping back on Black Mesa Tr. The bionic hip guy had time constraints and the Dutchman Tr is a bit quicker.
Other than a group of about 10 backpackers (out for their 3rd day), we encountered few hikers. I’m sure that will change as daylight increases and the morning temps increase. |
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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN |
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