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| Hiking | 8.75 Miles |
2,375 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.75 Miles | | | |
| 2,375 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | FINALLY!
Definition: after a long time, typically involving difficulty or delay.
After talking with Preston for years now about hiking Blue Jay, we finally got it done!
Preston picked me up in Safford and together we took off up Tripp Canyon road to the Pinaleno's west side.
With this mountain range being my backyard wonderland and love, I really don't know why I haven't been up this side in well over a decade. I was just blown away with the scenery on the drive up including Bear Springs Flat down low and the road's beauty going up high. There is so much along the way I never knew about.
We arrived and parked at the Turkey Spring trailhead under the lush forest. We chose to do the loop counter clockwise which IMO is the way to do this one. Up the steep & rocky road we headed  side trip up to West Peak and the lookout tower at 8670 elev back down and around the south side then looped Blue Jay peak back down to Turkey Spring on the north side.
I loved every second & step of this hike!
West Peak, the lookout tower, the views over to the east side range, Taylor Pass (next trip for sure), expansive views down to the north & east, Blue Jay Peak, the mossy green north side forest, ferns, ferns & ferns throughout, endless amounts of summer flowers & butterflies and a lot more that I would just end up rambling about.
The drive back home down Tripp Canyon road was the cherry on top with an amazing sunset/storm scene back at Bear Springs that I won't soon forget.
Blue Jay was well worth the wait, the long wait won't happen again. The eastern range will Always be my heart, but right now she needs time to recover ..... I shall return to West Peak and continue to explore all it has.
I rarely use this word, but on this day with this good friend and on this trail ..... Epic!
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Moderate throughout - Substantial in places. |
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