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| Hiking | 12.08 Miles |
1,559 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.08 Miles | 4 Hrs 9 Mns | | 3.07 mph |
| 1,559 ft AEG | 13 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Made it to the Middle Fork Trailhead at about 10:30 and I took the last available spot. This trail is very accessible and has a hot spring in the first mile of walking along the river so is pretty popular with locals.
Water has been pretty elusive around these parts for a long time, but Middle Fork is all water. The two constants are stunning, vertical canyon walls and river crossings. There are at least 20 fords with no real options to dodge getting very wet. Neoprene socks and sandels is the way to do this trail.
The last mile before the Little Bear Canyon trail junction is the most beautiful section of Middle Fork. This stretch imparts a primordial essence of ruggedness that can be photographed or described, but really just needs to be experienced.
Little Bear Canyon is tiny where Middle Fork is grand. The first mile is a slot that is so much fun to twist and wind through. This part of the Canyon is probably 12 feet at it's narrowest. The slot section only lasts for about a mile before climbing into a drier, upland pine forest with some pretty meadow areas and great views until dropping into TJ Corral. From there it was a mile road walk back to the Middle Fork trailhead.
The river trails of the Gila Wilderness would have been perfect a month ago. This area would have been an antidote to the dry, hot conditions of this summer. |
| _____________________
Wildflower seed in the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again |
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