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| Backpack | 20.06 Miles |
2,773 AEG |
| | Backpack | 20.06 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 2,773 ft AEG | | 32 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Had a few days off, but was fighting a cold. Wednesday was going to be hot, but hey, if you wait for a prefect time you miss some things. So we loaded up and headed for the Peralta Trailhead. The usual semi-full parking lot for midweek this time of the year. Headed out Dutchman under a bright hot sun. 90ish in February?!? Turned up Coffee Flat having seen no one since departing the trailhead. Did eventually see a pair of horsemen in the distance, but no one else. The fairy dusters are realy blooming. Some poppies and a few other flowers. Hopefully this will be a great spring for the wild flowers. We'll see.
Checked the well under the windmill immediately after arriving at Reeds having not seen any other water on the way in. About 10 to 12 feet down was all the good water a man could want. Cooled off a bit and set up camp. MJ was not going to be denied her tent and all the gear that comes with her camp. I chose to hang. Dinner was our dehydrated version of shepherd's pie. Made a fire, but even with the sun down it was a bit warm to truly enjoy the flames. We retreated to our respective nests pretty quick.
The wind was rather sporadic during the night. Thus the windmill turned sporadically and LOUDLY. I never sleep well the first night out and the squeaking and clanging windmill did not help that. Add in the effects of the lingering cold and the night became quite long. Apparently the tent area was immune from my maladies given the level of snoring emanating from that quadrant of the camp. Good for her.
After breakfast we rambled further along Coffee Flat up to Dripping Springs. Lots of good water along Randolph Canyon. Dripping Springs was doing better than just dripping. Turned up Frazier Canyon with some intent of going as far as the JF Ranch, but the lack of sleep and nagging sniffles altered the plan. We turned back after a while and wandered up Red Tanks and explored some of the upper reaches of Randolph. Red Tanks was in better condition than I'd anticipated, though I'd still call it a CSI trail (the catclaw collected numerous DNA specimens). Did see a half dozen or so white tails effortlessly scampering up a hillside. Always a delight. Trudged back into camp for some refreshments and an afternoon nap in the hammock.
A few clouds formed and the sunset was really nice. After dinner we decided to forego the campfire and turn in early. The temperature was really nice and a light breeze blew up. That set the windmill to turning. The squeaking and grinding pretty much sounded like an orchestra made up of only horned instruments played by crazed kindergarten kids. I dubbed it the Random Time Orchestra for its total lack of melody. Eventually it sort of became entertaining and then funny and then I just slept through it. The windmill is a Fiasa made in Argentina. Maybe music is a little different there.
Broke camp in no particular hurry. Began running into hikers and backpackers pretty quick once we were on the trail. One guy from Buffalo, NY, was hiking out. Several groups were hiking in -- Canadians planning to climb Miners Needle, some guys that used to guide for the Sierra Club heading out for 8 days, others that just looked happy to be out of the snow and enjoying the magnificent Supes. No Arizona folks encountered. Go figure.
Not our best outing in the Supes, but any trip into the area is a great trip. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Fairy dusters in abundance. A little of other things just beginning. |
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Dripping Spring |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| | | Plenty of water at the spring and down in the drainage. |
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Fraser Canyon |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | Some flow and plenty of good pools. |
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Randolph Canyon |
Medium flow |
Medium flow |
| | | Lots of pools and good flow in some areas. Plenty of good water to filter. |
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Reeds Water |
51-75% full |
51-75% full |
| | | Well level is about 10 feet. | | _____________________
All you have is your fire...
And the place you need to reach |
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