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Hiking | 7.43 Miles |
2,085 AEG |
| Hiking | 7.43 Miles | 3 Hrs 5 Mns | | 2.59 mph |
2,085 ft AEG | 13 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Got a late start and when I turned on to FR 626 (off AZ-87) I was granted permission to pass on down to the Peeley TH by the FS crew that was manning the gate. When I asked if the road was closed, TK (clearly the crew chief) said, "sort of, but we'll let you through because you are special." No truer words have ever been said.
There was one vehicle at the Peeley Trailhead that was leaving as I got there at 11 AM. Temps were a decent 82 degrees. FR 201 was a bit more of a challenge this winter with 4-6 inches of snow on the final 2 miles that have Northward exposures. I would call this a doable but not advisable sedan worthy road this time of year.
Even though my Route Scout and map are working fine I only put it together today that this is the road that popped me out of Gold Ridge and plunked me down South Fork on that loop a month or so ago. Maybe it's that special thing TK pointed out.
Everything about today was totally uneventful. All three of these trails are in perfectly good shape. There isn't any water anywhere out along the loop, but it was not a suprise. The views are pretty good of the Mazatzal peak usual suspects with killer views of the formidable south side of North Peak at the very start/end of the trail.
What was most interesting were the views of Mt. Ord. From way up it looks like the top third was spared from the Bush Fire. I took a picture (saved in the photo set) on the way down 201. It may only be the top thousand feet of prominence that was saved.
Didn't make it to the mine and only saw some very fresh bear scat close to the West Fork/Thicket Springs junction. Not sure I'll do this one again on account of the lack of trees and lack of a great lookout point. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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Wildflower seed in the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again |
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