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| Del Shay -Gun Creek What were we thinking Loop, AZ | |
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| | Del Shay -Gun Creek What were we thinking Loop, AZ | | | |
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Del Shay -Gun Creek What were we thinking Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 19.24 Miles |
4,504 AEG |
| | Hiking | 19.24 Miles | 15 Hrs 53 Mns | | 1.29 mph |
| 4,504 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | 14 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Joe's week to pick and he will be reminded about it numerous times in the future.
7:20am - 7:45am
Mile 0.0 - 0.5
Start, at old RT 188, dropped us 200+ feet through a cacti mine field to Tonto Creek.
I remember saying, glad we won't have to do this in the dark.
7:45am - 10:35am
Mile 0.5 - 6.75
Tonto Creek was no more than calf deep when we crossed it on this beautiful morning. We noticed a cable basket used to cross at high water to the north, close to the gauging station.
We hiked this CCW, turning out of a "dry" Gun Creek to a side canyon, to get to the 5 mile road walk portion of this hike. FR1389 and FR649 took us to the off trail climb to the saddle above Rattlesnake Spring. Beautiful views of Punkin Valley, Mt. Ord and Brown's Peak abound.
10:35am - 2:45pm
Mile 6.75 - 10.5
We followed the ridge line, hitting 5081, 5325, 5180 and 4896. We stopped for some lunch at 4896 before dropping into "dry" Del Shay Basin. There were some bypasses required to get down this, but nothing too horrible.
2:45pm - 5:15pm
Mile 10.5 - 12.5
Del Shay Creek
10.5 miles in, the "wet" fun begins in Del Shay Creek. There are plenty of scenic pools and falls in this canyon. One right after the other.
It was becoming obvious that I was not going to make the 7:30p time I'd told Deb I'd be home. We debated for the first time jumping out, but it didn't make sense at this point.
5:15pm - 9:00pm
Mile 12.5 -16.5
Gun Creek
Steep canyon walls, endless pools of water, waterfalls, plenty of foliage were both the highlights and lowlights. There was even a skunk in the dark with the business portion pointed at us, 15' away. There were just enough flat smooth sections that teased us with it getting easier. There was one particularly time consuming bypass section that took all of the fun out of it for me. In the pitch dark, at 9pm, we finally hit a section we could not go through. Even though we were only .44 miles through Gun Canyon to the dry portion of where we'd been earlier in the day, we were at the end for us.
9:00pm - 9:40pm
Mile 16.5 - 16.6 - 250' AEG
Climb out of Gun Creek Canyon
We made a guess and Joe led us straight up. We did not have a clue if it would work. This was the first time I ever heard Joe seriously say "If this does not work out, we're pushing the SPOT button". It was steep and loose, but it worked out.
9:40pm - 10:30pm
Mile 16.6 - 18.0
On the home stretch on the way back to Tonto Creek
Joe's starting to limp from a previous fall
10:30pm - 11:11pm
Mile 18.0 - 19.25
We opt for a road walk back to the truck, instead of the 200' climb through the Cacti Jungle
Tired, Hungry, Cut and Limping...We are done
Itch Scratched
I suggested the Scottsdale Greenbelt for this week, Joe said "too much water....Try again" |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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| _____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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