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| Hiking | 5.70 Miles |
1,611 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.70 Miles | 3 Hrs 48 Mns | | 1.50 mph |
| 1,611 ft AEG | | 14 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | My first ascent was October 9, 2012 so I figured it was about time for a repeat. Since it would be the steepest, most hazardous hike since my back surgery, the moment Black Mesa came into sight along FR 1697 I spent the whole time scanning the slopes intensely before choosing the final route. Thankfully I hit a very well-used game trail and followed it all the way up.
Only found a few new entries to the summit log since 2014... an 'RPC' in 2013, Bob Packard in 12014 and another in January of 2018. I was a bit surprised because I expected an entry by FLYING-FLIVER on his 2015 trip.
I planned on taking the same descent route as my first trip (similar to FLIVER's) but there was a pair of old-geezer's shooting toward that slope. I did pass by close enough to notice they had what looked like a .50 caliber M-249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon), and it sure sounded like it. Oh yeah, I didn't get close enough to see for sure, but another shooter along FR 1697 had what appeared to be a Barrett rifle, and again it definitely had the sound of a .50 cal. And here I hoped I had gone far enough away from Phoenix to get some peace and quiet.
(Although in truth, between the two guns they didn't fire any more than a dozen shots during the3 hours I was in the area... the cost of .50 cal ammunition may have something to do with that.)
Now I'm just wandering and exploring on the way back to the 4Runner... I could have driven much closer to Black Mesa but since my hiking is part of my physical therapy I wanted to get in a bit more.
Just across from where I parked I noticed what appeared to be haphazard ruin walls, so of course I had to check it out. On the way over I spotted a box I just had to check out... the answer is in the photoset.
Once I circled around for the easiest ascent route I realized it was the same site Eric visited in January. As I ate lunch I wandered around, locating over a dozen potsherds.
Overall a great day to be out hiking! |
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