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| Hiking | 14.50 Miles |
1,930 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.50 Miles | 8 Hrs 28 Mns | | 2.40 mph |
| 1,930 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 25 Mns Break | 19 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | | I arrived at the Loy Canyon trailhead at 6:30 AM after a short drive from one of my favorite "week night" camping spots near Cockscomb/ Aerie. A sign at the trailhead warned "Bee Activity" fairly recently though I wouldn't experience any all day (the fly population, however, seems quite robust). The sun stayed fairly hidden behind Bear mountain for the entirety of the first flat stretch of (sandy!) trail trekking through Hancock Ranch and the (dry) creek bed of Loy Canyon. The cover in this canyon was surprisingly abundant (reminded me of nearby Fay Canyon and Boynton Canyon) with many alligator junipers joining the usual manzanita, gambel oak, and mesquite. The red rock scenery was a bit tough to appreciate behind the moderate cover of foliage but there were definitely some poignant and interesting formations before the trail completely gave up the canyon for the mountains. The climb up to the Secret Mountain trailhead was pretty exposed and for me felt narrow. Short but sweet. Peeking into Secret Canyon from the ridge at the junction for Secret Mountain trail was a fun experience having just hiked that canyon a few weeks ago. From here I took the trail right to Secret Cabin. Having hiked to Taylor Cabin in Sycamore Canyon last week, Secret Cabin was devastatingly unimpressive. Little more than an old corral and a sparse lob cabin frame remain. I chose not to hike on past the cabin as several triplogs seemed to suggest there was little to experience by doing so. Perhaps next visit... I should note that there were pools (read: standing water) in sections of the creek that ran along the trail to Secret Cabin. I personally would not want to drink the stuff, but I suppose one could pump/ treat in a pinch. I waled past the junction for Loy Canyon on my return and hiked the little ridge that takes one to the Wilderness boundary/ trail register for Secret Mountain trail (I'd thought of hiking to Hidden Cabin but didn't realize the trail became a 4x4 road...) before heading back down the trail to Loy Canyon in search of the cliff dwellings. It took some careful scanning of the canyon walls to notice the dwellings but I'm glad I found them because for me they were the gem of the hike. After scrambling to the uppermost cliff dwellings in Boynton Canyon a few days ago, these cliff dwellings almost felt like a safe and easy trek! Today's high was forecasted at 97. |
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