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| Thompson Peak from Gateway, AZ | | -
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| | Thompson Peak from Gateway, AZ | | | |
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Thompson Peak from Gateway, AZ
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| Hiking | 14.51 Miles |
3,860 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.51 Miles | 7 Hrs 52 Mns | | 2.06 mph |
| 3,860 ft AEG | 49 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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[ show ]
| no partners | | Scary trailhead. Managed to get past squeaky toned soccer moms without hearing you're not doing it right. My nerves were put at ease when a punk kid Bruce's age pulled up in an RX-7 blaring Steve Miller. After we hit the Maurice note I got underway.
Choose this network of trails to test a new feature on Route Scout. Tread holds a good clean bulldozed swath for a couple miles. Further in with the towers out of view the terrain/geology is pretty cool and has a less urban feel. Noticed a mini ascent before the big ascent on RS so I decided on ZipFizz before the big ascent. It has zero effect on energy, just makes water exciting.
I'm sure everyone figured I was a total to dweeb with my Everest sized daypack but it looks snazzy. Heading up to Bell Pass surprisingly had several oncoming hikers. I did start a little late and galloped at a snail's pace.
Just two mtn bikers and a friendly hiker out back on Prospector. Nice trail view wise. Signed but I first noted it on RS.
Approaching Thompson Peak I couldn't remember if I'd ever been to the summit. Going up the concrete I was 147% sure I'd never skinned this peak! The concrete is reliably grippy. It felt great to hike backwards using different muscles. The second hurrah after intermission was wicked steep for a couple short switchbacks, freaking awesome. It was all fun and games going up but the thought of slip-descending was creeping into mind-balance.
18 feet shy of 4000 ft Thompson Peak was pretty cool. Might repeat more than once every 23 years.
Upon realizing the gleaned loop wasn't legal nor safe for my balance I switched to out-n-back mode. Heading down the top of the lower concrete slab I passed a biker who had enough lung to chat. One of two high pitch granny gear riders encountered. Neither seemed to be spinning extremely quick but the pitch of the ratcheting gears caught my attention.
Ate some stale almonds cuz I needed the sodium. Debated on a ZipFizz for magnesium but hit the final ascent with Eternal Energy instead to get it over in flash. Good slow hike, glad I went.
Black and chrome convertible `57ish Dodge DeSoto or such looked dreamy on the Loop 101. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Parish GoldenEye, Desert Globemallow, Desert Phlox, Blooming Creosote, Trailing 4:00 |
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