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| Hiking | 10.81 Miles |
1,053 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.81 Miles | 8 Hrs 22 Mns | | 1.84 mph |
| 1,053 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Day Two of the Backpack, Day One on Passage 16 southbound. I thot this was a mostly downhill hike; well I thot wrong. I thot this was a beautiful passage; well I thot right. Didn't have much for breakfast as we were dry-camping so I just had some granola and two tubes of applesauce. The sun rays slowly lit up the landmarks to the north and we could see a moisture haze in the air. And then the sun rose above Ajax to warm us a little while we were breaking camp.
It was a bit chilly for our 8:30 start but once we got going it was just fine. And the first little part was down hill but for the most part, this day would be a lot of ups and downs, ups and downs, ups and downs but nothing too dramatic on the upside. Many times today you could see where the trail went, sometimes that was good and sometimes not so good. The trail seems to be in good shape. Shawn remarked a couple times about how they got this trail in here. This passage was the last to be completed as well.
We continued south for the most part below Mountains 4202 and then skirt a little wider and westward around Mountain 3845 when the vista opens up toward Martinez Canyon and some striking rock formations and colors. As we got closer to this area I thot I saw a trail that went across a ridge in a rock formation and alas it was. Many times you can see the trail you're going to and the one you've already hiked. Sometimes I look forward to what I see but then I see it involves some more up which is not bad except for this heavy backpack.
I think we all particularly enjoyed the bedrock section (it has a Goldfields look to it) as we wrapped around to a big saddle (below Mountain 3748) where we took our first break of the day. It would be a great place to camp and I'm sure northbound bike riders and hikers are quite relieved when they finally get here. We probably stayed longer than we should but the views and the temps were just so spectacular.
And so we once again begin on the downhill slant as we continue south to the River eventually crossing to the side of Mountain 3845 again. This was some nice hiking as the trail seems in very good shape as you contour the mountainsides without having to go down or up too much. You see, when you look at the elevation graph for this 25 mile hike, it seems mostly downhill... but of course it does over a 25 mile haul but when you expand and zoom in on 10 miles, it's not as downhill. And carrying those heavy packs over every little hill they seem twice the size. 
We saw some cool alcoves and caves on this section and would cross paths with a couple northbound thru hikers from Halifax, Canada. They were carrying 6 liters of water. Their filter had broken so they would have to try to get one once they hit Picketpost in order to carry on. I believe their goal was Roosevelt Bridge. Then a little later we would encounter three northbound bike riders as they were powering up this section. They were very nice.
We would now start seeing Dale's Butte for quite awhile as we rounded another corner and down to the wide drainage at the corner of the White Canyon Wilderness where we would break for lunch about 1. It was starting to get a little overcast with broken clouds which is always nice when you're hiking. We followed alongside the drainage where we encountered a couple more bikers that were kind enough to tell Tracy there was a big hill coming... thoughtful of them, ha! This was near the Red Mountain area. This part of the hike down to the river was pretty rocky from about the 7 1/2 mile mark to the road that takes you to the river. The gusts of wind had picked up somewhere along there and I remember Tracy having to stop to straighten the strong of her hat as she says "it's strangling me or trying to put me out of my misery" .
We finally made it to the intersection with the road where we took a short break at the 9 1/3 mile mark before heading to the river to retrieve a full load of water. The Sawyer Squeeze worked well. I also brot the Kitchen Sink where we put our water and then dumped it into the squeeze bag to fill our bottles and bladders. It's much easier than sitting at the river and pumping or trying to fill the squeeze bag. The water did have a slight taste to it but not necessarily bad.
Shawn had an idea for a camping spot so we headed west and then slightly south for about a mile above the river. We finally settled on a spot with Tracy and Shawn on one side of the trail and Ambika and I on the other. Two northbound bikers drove up and told us the forecast for Superior had 70% chance of rain. They were debating on whether to continue up the trail at this point. One was an experienced AZT biker and was taking a friend on this overnite riding. Not long after they scooted on, bits of rain started to fall so we madly got our tents up. However, it was only bits of rain so we all were out shooting the double rainbow that had appeared to the north and seemed to arch over Shawn and Tracy's tent.
Ambika and I made a Mountainhouse Chili Mac stew... put a little too much water in it but decided we liked the extra broth it created. Oh and we had a little sangria and finished the night with a couple sips of Fireball as we watched the stars appear and the moon peek in and out of the clouds. That night we would hear blasts of some sort. I think it was gusty as well. Nonetheless, Day Two was on the books.
Well being as I got stuck at home this weekend (my garage door wouldn't open because two cables and the spring had broken so lots of money later I could get out but too late for a planned event), I was able to get this part of the hike all wrapped up.
YouTube finally got some new music too. Not as happy with the transitioning on some of these videos but I hate to remake them..
Part 2 and 3 are pretty awesome; the scenery is just really something out of the 4 videos:
Part 1 from TH south to the ridge [ youtube video ]
Part 2 from saddle to the valley [ youtube video ]
Part 3 continuing in the Valley and across a couple drainages [ youtube video ]
Part 4 finally, the River and west to our camp [ youtube video ]
Here is the link to my photoset from 2012 when we were across the way on Donnelly Slope looking north across the Gila to the area of Passage 16. It's fun to see what the Passage looks like from there after finally being there: [ photoset ] |
| _____________________
For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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