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| Hiking | 7.49 Miles |
890 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.49 Miles | 4 Hrs 35 Mns | | 1.91 mph |
| 890 ft AEG | 40 Mns Break | 8 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | This is a redux of a lollipop loop hike we did this past March in which I forgot my camera. [ popup triplog ] The Spur Cross Ranch Conservation Area and this section of the Tonto National Forest to the north were hit on Monday by a tornadic maelstrom and several inches of rain. Camera in tow we set out up Cave Creek which is now flowing thanks to the aforementioned rain to check out the carnage.
After hiking NOBO through SCRCA and entering the Tonto Forest the loop we took starts at the Skull Mesa Trailhead. All the trails we used were washed out to some degree and had lots of damage. Round ankle roller rocks were almost everywhere so we got to utilize all those "fast twitch" muscles to stay upright. Lots of MUD too, the kind that is very slick, sticky, and deep. We bush wacked ourselves around when we could but sometimes there was no room or we were fooled by the ground appearing dry. After one step in this stuff your boots pick up about 3 pounds! This really slowed the SloFolks down even below our normal pedestrian pace.
At our fourth water crossing Mrs.SloFolk had a misstep on the bank and went down in the mud. I probably shouldn't have laughed but it really was funny to witness. DOWN GOES FRAZIER!  The loop takes you up 400 feet in gain to a ridgeline overlooking the creek. Great views in all directions. This is on "Forest Road" 1533. Road is a misnomer as most all of it is a single track as is "Road" 48 which is the trail that follows the creek north of Spur Cross. Modern maps have it as FR1053 but I'll go with the Carsonite trail markers which read 1533.
Good overhead view of the old gold mining operation on the west bank before dropping back down to creek level to complete the loop. Just to the north is Chalk Canyon and then a little farther lies the defunct 6L Ranch. Both places are great destinations on their own with lots of ancient and pioneer history.
Even with the mud, humidity, and falls this was a fun little hike as this area never disappoints. We feel so lucky to have this in our figurative back yard. |
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| "If you wait, all that happens is you get older" |
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