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| Indian Wash Ridge Loop, AZ | |
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| | Indian Wash Ridge Loop, AZ | | | |
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Indian Wash Ridge Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 8.70 Miles |
2,417 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.70 Miles | 7 Hrs 24 Mns | | 1.23 mph |
| 2,417 ft AEG | 18 Mns Break | | | |
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| no linked trail guides |
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| no partners | | I thought it might be fun to go look around this area, not too far from the Verde, to see what was out there.
Well, it's pretty nice desert that probably doesn't get visited very often. I walked the ridge west of and above Indian Wash and I suspect it's a good alternative to walking the wash itself (see triplogs by Alston and muskeybanker) which is a jungle in a few places. The ridge has nice views but has plenty of ups and downs and small rocks to slow you down.
Of course I was looking for ancient cultural leavings. The Hohokam may have gotten this far north (only a few miles away from a major village near Rio Verde). Unfortunately I didn't find much, just a few areas with pottery, but one of them had the painted red pottery associated with Hohokam, so that was good.
I had planned to take the ridge "all the way" but near the end I decided to drop off a little early to the west. Not a great idea - steep and slow with a barrier at the end - but ended up at the big sandy wash (used by ATVers) which was easy walking for the return. Eventually I had to leave the wash and ramble cross-country to get back to the car.
Flowers everywhere as well as a green ground cover which I think is sprouting brittlebush softened the predominate cactus landscape and made it nice. |
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Route Editor
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