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| Hiking | 12.00 Miles |
2,030 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.00 Miles | 6 Hrs 4 Mns | | 1.98 mph |
| 2,030 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I decided to hike the Bronco and Cottonwood Trails from the Bronco Trailhead to the 7Springs area, or at least to the junction with the Skunk Tank Trail. I got about 1000 feet or so short of it when the trail had disappeared completely. Looks like the fire from 2005 to that section of the Cottonwood Trail out and it wasn't rebuilt.
Started just before 7am in the dark. It was a bit chilly but not bad. At the one saddle on the way up to the high point someone had a tent set up for an overnighter. I could hear the people inside as I walked by. Bronco Tank has some water in it. Made note of the China Wall Trail junction past that, might try that one sometime soon. Bronco starts smooth but soon gets rocky, then rockier.
The Cottonwood Trail from the junction was flat and smooth, then I lost it as it climbed and I stayed in the creek. I bushwhacked my way back up the hill to the trail, then descended as it has turned very rocky. Back in the wash, it begins to fade. It was as this point that I tripped, smacked my bad knee on a rock, and punctured my hand with a stick. Just as my knee had quit burning I noticed the blood on my hand. There was a puncture at the web of my hand between my thumb and forefinger. It wasn't all that big, but it was pretty deep. I used a handkerchief to soak up the blood and then to protect the wound while using my hiking pole. I continued on until the trail was gone beyond a doubt and I was on a steep hill sideways and the stress on my hand from the pole was making it burn more.
On the way back along the Bronco Trail I encountered several older hikers. It turned out they were all part of a big group, some of which were just hanging out at the trailhead, probably after shorter hikes. I stopped and talked to quite a few of them, both on the trail and at the parking lot. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
