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| Hiking | 11.65 Miles |
1,460 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.65 Miles | 4 Hrs 21 Mns | | 2.68 mph |
| 1,460 ft AEG | | | | |
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[ show ]
| no partners | | After two weeks of minimal physical activity, including seven days sitting in my car, driving to & from Maryland, I needed to do some real physical exercise. Not just walking around my neighborhood, or to the post office. With November temperatures in the Phoenix area typically a moderate mid-70s, I figured it was time to start my winter routine of lower elevation locals hikes.
Since I hiked the Windgate Pass-Bell Pass Loop, in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, around this time last year, I figured I would return to the area. My orginal idea was to hike up Thompson Peak, but I reconsidered after comparing my lack of recent climbing to a hike that has been described as “extremely steep” and “laughably steep”. 
The easy first 2.5 miles of the Thompson Peak climb are actually on Dixie Mine Trail, so I settled for doing that out to Dixie Mine, then looping around the hill that hosts the mine on Prospector Trail, Bell Pass Trail, Windmill Trail and Coachwhip Trail, ending with a short mine explore, before heading back to the Golden Eagle Trailhead.
The Golden Eagle Trailhead has his & hers restrooms, but some gentleman chose to instead use the baby changing station. 
Walking along the sidewalk, I dreamt about hitting the PowerBall, so I too could afford one of the luxury villas. 
On Thompson Peak Rd., I was passed by a work pickup, that took longer driving up to the antenna farm than I did hiking up to Prospector Scenic View.
As I was hiking clockwise, Prospector Trail was the only real climb of the day, gaining 500 ft. in 1.3 miles. The scenic view was okay, but there is no shade or rest bench. In fact, no shade anywhere on the Dixie Mine Loop, other than in the wash below Dixie Mine’s tailings pile.
Other than an occasional wash crossing, from the southeast slope of McDowell Peak, it is gradually downhill all the way back to Golden Eagle Trailhead.
It never occured to me there might actually be a windmill along Windmill Trail, but there is: If you turn right into the wash just past the tool box, the windmill is about 200 yds. “downstream”. No idea what remains of it.
The McDowell Fire burned 615 acres just to the north of the Coachwhip Trail back in August. Since our summer monsoon was non-existent, I could still see some of the red retardant drops.
I turned right back onto Dixie Mine Trail, from which you can see the tailings pile most of the way. In ¾ of a mile, it rejoins Thompson Peak Rd. After just a few feet, turn right up a rough path. In 300 yds., you will be at the top of the Dixie Mine tailings pile. I found a few feet of wood oar cart tie and several small concrete foundations. The shaft was covered with both chicken wire and, atop that, a heavier, wider-spaced, rebar “net”. The rebar could handle human weight, and you won’t fall through the space, but I didn’t feel comfortable stepping into the middle, so I flattened myself and crawled out to take down-shaft video. There was water at the bottom. 
I waited for the famous Fountain Hills fountain to erupt at the top of the hour, but could not see it from the top of the mine. Instead, I headed down into the wash, where there are two adits: The smaller just “no trespassing” signed; the larger gated & locked. The highlight though, was the really cool mine diagram (see photos).
After checking out Dixie Mine, I booked it back to the Golden Eagle Trailhead, whose baby changing station hadn’t been cleaned. After a swing by the Fountain Hills Mickey D’s for my standard post-hike Filet-o-Fish meal, with large fries, extra salt, I was back home by 2:30 p.m. And THAT is my favorite part of locals hikes: An early end to my day. 
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/482268881 |
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Wildflowers Observation None
Nada ... unless you count the purple ones planted along the sidewalk in Eagles Nest. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
