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| | Hermit/Tonto/Boucher Loop, AZ | | | |
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Hermit/Tonto/Boucher Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 20.00 Miles |
5,300 AEG |
| | Hiking | 20.00 Miles | | | |
| 5,300 ft AEG | | | | |
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none
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| no partners | | I’m in the very early stages of trying to hike the Canyon’s named trails. This weekend was supposed to be the Hermit/Boucher loop on Sunday and an out-and-back on New Hance or Tanner on Monday. Only finished the first.
I’d done Hermit before, and love it. Started at ~6:15. I really enjoy the extended lateral hikes between the steep drops on Hermit. It feels so much more organic to me than Bright Angel or Kaibab (though it lacks Kaibab’s huge views). It’s also not as brutally steep as Grandview. I had the trail to myself, and trail conditions remain excellent. I encountered four backpackers coming out of Hermit Camp. I imagine they had a really cold night but they looked in good spirits. I refilled a liter there and continued on the Tonto. Conditions were chilly, clear and beautiful. I was feeling kind of weak for some reason, which was going to punish me on the way up Boucher. It also took away my motivation to take pictures – I just wanted to keep moving.
Reports that you should go up Boucher, rather than down, are absolutely spot on. Steep and pebbly in some sections, scrambly in a few others, it was definitely a chore going uphill, but it’s not something I would have wanted to go down. It’s striking how much less maintained it is than Hermit, given their proximity. It also suffers from repeatedly entering drainages, which I imagine makes maintenance challenging. There was no water on trail. I have to say, I don’t anticipate going out of my way to take Boucher again. Hermit is just so much easier to climb. I was pooped by the end, and scuttled the idea of New Hance or Tanner, while putting away a pizza and some beer. It’s a bit of a schlep to drive from the Valley to the Canyon for a single day hike, but I just couldn’t motivate. Next time! |
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Route Editor
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