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| Hiking | 3.27 Miles |
938 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.27 Miles | 3 Hrs 31 Mns | | 1.09 mph |
| 938 ft AEG | 31 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | It's been 10 years, at least, since I have been up to Peak 2881. The real question is WHY did I wait so long. This entire area is really gorgeous. With all the rains, the entire hike was like walking in a garden. Lots of hedgehog blooms, some lupines, a few poppies and daisies, the brittlebush is still hanging on, some prickly pear starting up and I even saw a few yellow cholla blooms too. Lots and lots of grass too...too much grass...
Of course, the flowers are not the draw of this area, it's all about the views. With the crazy clouds I had my entire hike, it made it even more amazing.
I had a gps route from HikerDW loaded, so I followed the old "road" around the side and then hiked up to the little ridge. I explored as I moved and took a lot of pictures. I did not break any land speed records on this one. Too many things to see!
When I arrived at the base, I remember looking at a triplog from Cannondale Kid about skirting the base from the southside and moving over to the northside to climb up. Of course, I ignored that and took a look at the top of peak and estimated it wasn't "that bad". Well, it was pretty hairy going straight up. Lots of loose rock and way too many cholla cacti. But, I managed to climb up.
The top was really overgrown compared to my recollections of the last time I visited here. The top reminded me of Black Top Mesa. Lots of basalt rock everywhere and a ton of foliage. Everything that could bloom, was. The views were very nice. The clouds really added some wonderful texture and depth to the scenes. This peak offers some of the best views anywhere in the Goldfields. You can see Saguaro and Canyon lake, Four Peaks, Weavers Needle, Superstition Mountain, Malapais.....so beautiful for sure.
When it came time to go back, I did not opt for my "short cut" on the way down and wisely exited from the north and looked for the cairns. For the most part, the path is fairly clear and there are cairns leading you on. It takes you across the eastern side to the base of the southside. Definitely a better option for future visits. For the return, I opted to head straight to Apache Gap to see how that little ridge it rather than return the way I had come in via the wash. The hike down to the creek/road was nastier that I envisioned. That was slow going too. So, lessons learned.
All in all, a perfect hike - scenery, solitude and fresh air....just what I needed. |
| _____________________
"Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul."
instagram: @andydilling |
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