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| Hiking | 15.30 Miles |
1,195 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.30 Miles | 6 Hrs | | 2.55 mph |
| 1,195 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | My daughter's friend at school scored them and my wife and son tickets for Hamilton at ASU. Between that and the cooler weather in the desert now, this was the perfect opportunity to knock out this longer trail in the Estrellas. I hiked this once before nearly 16 years ago, but I can barely remember it at all. I think I did the loop counter-clockwise last time, but I'm not sure. This time I did it clockwise, noting that the last 2 miles would be an easy downgrade on the service road that serves as the Coldwater Trail.
Got started just after 6:30am, with just enough light to not need a headlamp. The first mile was chilly enough to need gloves and my hoodie up. Once the sun hit the horizon and the blood got flowing from the slight uphill grade, the hoodie came off quickly.
The Pedersen Trail starts to get interesting as it nears the Estrella Mountains. Lots of wash crossings on that east part of the loop, making for most of the AEG on this hike. Surprising how deep and wide some of the washes are here, but it is near the mountain, so I guess not so much.
The southernmost part of the loop where the Pedersen Trail runs east and west actually have better views than I expected, although the trail itself is just a service road that's so sandy it's like walking in a wash. I walked the edges of it for nearly 2 miles before I finally just got off trail on the north side, where it looked like mountain bikers and horse riders had done the same thing. It's the first time I can remember that hiking off trail was actually easier than hiking on the actual designated trail. 
Took a lunch break just after the 10 mile mark under the shade of a mesquite tree. It was interesting how quickly it got cool sitting in the shade and not moving. That normally happens at higher elevations. Nice to have that kind of weather in a Sonoran environment, even briefly.
Saw the first people just after lunch, 2 mountain bikers. After that I saw 2 trail runners and some hikers in the distance I neared the trailhead where you can see the other trails since they're so close.
Finished up about 1pm, 6 hours to hike over 15 miles.
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Route Editor
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