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| Backpack | 24.67 Miles |
4,850 AEG |
| | Backpack | 24.67 Miles | | | |
| 4,850 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Decided to go down to the start at the Kelvin Riverside Bridge after work on Thursday and see if we had time to hike in a little ways to get a head start on these two passages. So after dropping a car at Picketpost we (hiking partner Jamie and I) headed down to Kelvin for the car shuttle and the start of the hike. We made it down to the railroad bridge for camp the first night. Up early the next day (Friday) to try to get a start before it got too hot. We ran into thru-hiker (and triple crowner) "Steady" and the three of us hiked the rest of the way to Picketpost together.
We did make a few stops when we got close to the Gila to filter water and dunk our shirts in the water for a little evaporative cooling (even though it only stayed wet for 15 minutes - but it still felt good to cool off). I don't think it was much over 80 degrees, but with no shade that sun is intense.The climb up from the river in the "heat" zapped my energy. We made it just 14 miles or so and decided to call it a day and camped near "Dale's Butte" with views all around and an almost full moon. It forgot to get cold that night too.
Another early start on Saturday, and more climbing. Great views of the canyon and rock formations. We were concerned about water and not sure if there really was any water cached for public use at the end of passage 16, so we were being conservative just in case. Thankfully there was water when we reached the end of the passage (thank you so much to the volunteers that do that!). We took a little water to get us the rest of the way to Picketpost, and continued on the way. Made it 18.5 miles that day and got to Picketpost before sunset and with time to go get the car left in Kelvin. We dropped Steady off in Superior so she could check on the motel and get a few items since she would be stuck there until Monday for her re-supply at the post office. Then after getting Jamie's car we all met back at DeMarcos for some dinner. The motel in Superior was booked so Steady made plans to stay in Apache Junction until Monday, so after dinner I dropped her off at her motel.
It was a lovely couple passages in a very remote part of the state. I think I found my heat threshold though. The joy of section hiking is that we get to pick where we want to go based on the weather. My thoughts are with all the thru-hikers making there way out there now.
Wildflowers were not great (I think we were too late this year), but still a good show in places. This hike brings us to over 412 AZT miles complete - so half way there. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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