| |
|
| | |
| |
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Despite the forecast I had an itch I needed to scratch. A certain area, the ruin bothered me as to the route to the top. I had been unsure but now I seemed to think I actually did it, not my partner, which is unusual. I had other plans but I really had to see if my memory was correct.
I was the only vehicle at the TH and in the area all weekend it seemed. I got an early start, went to the ruin but meandered a bit near the rim, picking up an old road probably cut by a cat years ago near the mining area. Some pretty shattered glittery rock. Got to the ruin, already a bit warm. Dropped my pack and scrambled around for some photos, but sun angle already poor. Went around a corner kinda high and there was the route. A thin ledge traverse for a few feet, then straight up a chute with very good footing and hand holds. Boulder choke at top, I weighted everything, solid, then swung across and I was up. Two more rooms up there beside the room with the tree growing out of it and the prominent pinnacle wall. From the amount of fallen rock walls must have been substantial. No shards that I saw. I took some pics and walked around, then down the same route with no problems. Went around by the unusual "cairn" pretty sure miners did it, can't see the Indians wasting their time. The wall was undermined there but if built up it would be a pretty easy step over to the notch to get to the cairn base. I went along the wall and determined a route up, but a stout bush would not give way and I had no pruners. I found some black on white shards along here, but due to the grass and tumbled rock everywhere it was just pure luck I saw it.
Back to the pack, along the low hills and bushwacked over to the area that Grasshopper lost his camera; I looked but found nothing and now I was getting a little warm. Back to the car, had a blow out on the sole of my shoe but made it back without having to duct tape it. Should be repairable with shoe goo.
Off to find a campsite, drove a road out and found a large ( for this area) cedar/juniper and stuffed the Jeep under it, a nice rock rimmed porch below I set my chair up and read. The sun was still high but time went by and a great night with stars and kept cool enough with the breeze.
Next morning I went to a nearby ruin I had not been to in years. Bees active in a hole below the walled up crack. I determined a climbing route to the high ruin. I was sure I had not been up there, maybe my partner had but I did not remember. Unfortunately this was higher and more exposed and I was alone. I froze about 12 feet up, there was a bit of a hard move but doable; I even had a handline tucked in my shirt to rig on a bush about 10 feet above me to assist with the downclimb. I just could not do it. It I had someone with me I would have tried it, again looks doable.
Now I decided I wanted to get up on top. A break in the cliffs I ascended I would not wish on any enemy. I arrived at the intermediate cliff band with prickly pear spines embedded just about every where. I got as many off as I could and then they were in my camera and pack bags so stabbed me while walking, I had to shed those and get them out of there.
Nice views, and then a rapid return to the Jeep.
Driving home, temps on Cherry Creek road in the mid- upper 90's and in Tucson as high as 107. Still I was comfortable cruising with the windows down.
If the temps moderate gonna have to try the one again, or wait till fall. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
