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| AZT#21 FR3529-1421-22 Loop, AZ | | -
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| | AZT#21 FR3529-1421-22 Loop, AZ | | | |
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AZT#21 FR3529-1421-22 Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 9.70 Miles |
1,470 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.70 Miles | 4 Hrs 12 Mns | | 2.43 mph |
| 1,470 ft AEG | 12 Mns Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| Partners |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Started with a plan to re-do a trip back in April 2013 when we were unable to accomplish the task due to a feisty rattlesnake coiled in the narrow entrance. Although I tried a number of things to get it to move either farther in or out so I could walk in, it simply refused to do anything but stay coiled and continued a furious rattle. Tracey wasn't too enthused about the whole thing so that was the end of that trip.
Well, as usual, about 3 miles into the trip, when it was time to leave AZT #21 and head up the very rough and almost non-existent track to the mine, almost as one we both thought... ummm, not today.
And so, not having anything else mapped and being pretty sure sometime in the distant past the AZT used to follow a different route along FR 1452 & FR 1451 and ultimately hitting the old Boulder Trail #73, so we decided to keep going until we reached FR 3529, if it still existed. From there we would follow it north to FR 1451 then loop back to FR 22, and ultimately back to the Bushnell Tanks gate.
At about the 4-mile mark, without a GPS track we were beginning to wonder if enough of FR 3529 still existed to know when to turn. Well worry no more, another half-mile and we found it. After likely 10+ years of non-use and erosion, it was so rocky at times it was better simply to walk alongside. Just as we reached FR 1451 we say a couple with a side-by-side ATV... yup in an area which has been off-limits to anyone but the grazing lease-holder for a full 14 years!
We had heard one shot about 45 minutes earlier so our first assumption was they were hunters, so I asked if they were hunters to which they said no, just spotting for deer. Although all we could see was a large binocular on a stand, I thought to myself... 'Spotting with a rifle, huh?' But, assuming they had a license to hunt deer I let that go. Then I asked if they had permission from the lease-holder to hunt here? He asked "why would I need that?" Well, because this whole area has been off-limits for 14 years.
But further, being unaware of any illegal bypasses around the gate by the Beeline I asked how they got here. He said they came over Reno Pass. I asked how he got past the locked gate on FR 524 three miles on the OTHER side of Reno Pass. "There was room to squeeze the ATV through".
Although again I held my tongue, I couldn't help but wonder... it's obvious the gate is locked for a reason so it's fine to drive around it? And we wonder why more and more areas are being closed off to the public.
Then he said it was a real rough road to which I calmly responded, that's because it hasn't BEEN a road in 14 years. But whatever, we're outta here and we headed back to the car. Final note, we heard another shot about 20 minutes later, so I guess they must have had a binocular which fires bullets. Whatever...
Post-hike note:
I stopped in at the Mesa FS District office on the way home and found out there is a new Dispersed Recreation Program Manager who will be overseeing the hiking and ATV trails in the district. She will follow up and it appears may put a priority on stopping traffic into Bushnell area from the Tonto Basin side. Possibly the steel pipe fencing instead of the small boulders adjacent to the locked gate. |
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