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| Del Shay - Gun Creek Loop, AZ | |
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| | Del Shay - Gun Creek Loop, AZ | | | |
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Del Shay - Gun Creek Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 18.47 Miles |
4,305 AEG |
| | Hiking | 18.47 Miles | 15 Hrs 56 Mns | | 1.24 mph |
| 4,305 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | 14 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Feb 02 2016 Del Shay Trail - Upper Gun Creek Loop
Apr 29 2017 FS649 - 5325 - 4896 - Lower Del Shay Creek - Lower Gun Creek
The common denominators were rock, water and foxtails. To avoid private property and a long drive on questionable roads I started this off Old SR188. Immediately we dropped 200 ft down cactus hidden by waving, possibly giggling, foxtails. After 10 minutes down my socks were loaded with the itchy beast so I just wore sandals without socks for grasshopper harvest sections.
FS649 - 5325 - 4896
Ascended FS649 to the 4 holding tanks and mini trailer. The road peters out just before Rattlesnake Saddle. Then it was offtrail to 5325 & 4896. I was impressed with the views of Ord ascending all morning, this hike featured it well. The Four Peaks blend as one and the communities dotting Tonto Basin fill in the middle ground.
Lower Del Shay Creek
Down to Del Shay Basin our tributary was dry with medium pools. A few steep dropoffs before reaching Del Shay Creek didn't take much to figure out. Del Shay was narrow, flowing light with lots of obstacles and pools. Lack of flat surface had us skirting a hundred feet up looking for better conditions. That wasted almost an hour. The sketchy steep mess of terrain was slower than creek travel.
The creek flaunts nice geology, great pools and occasional shade. I do not have an eye for tent spots but a hammock backpacker would be set.
Lower Gun Creek
The rock and water party kept rolling. It has reliever stretches where you can travel quicker than a crawl. It's almost as special as Lower Del Shay Creek. Just a notch less of awesome being a major and easier access drainage. Our hike was too much to enjoy the repetitive cool spots. Even before setting foot in Gun we were joking about a 10pm finish. A few slippery rock tumbles and a ridiculous swimmer bypass turned the joke on us.
Highlight was a skunk fifteen feet ahead in the beam of my flashlight.
Synopsis
We sought new adventure. We found it. We never want to see this place again. It was pure hell. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
scattered sego lilies & larkspur |
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Del Shay Creek |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | Babbling and cascading between large pools. |
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FS 1389 - Tank #1 |
51-75% full |
51-75% full |
| | | Bruce declared this nearly full from a perch miles away. Yellow, so either algae or a pool of foxtails. |
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Gun Creek |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | Dry near tonto confluence. Light flow just a mile up creek and better further up. | | _____________________
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