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| Hiking | 5.79 Miles |
556 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.79 Miles | 2 Hrs 41 Mns | | 2.16 mph |
| 556 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Before heading down FR 208, I first checked out the trailheads on FR 89A. All three pit toilets were locked for "Covid 19". Good thing I didn't need to use it.
Starting at 8:45, I told my wife I’d be back about 11:30. I planned to also explore the two drainages which feed the lake: Up Bear Canyon to its southwest, then down the unnamed wash to its southeast.
The trail descends a steep & fairly rocky 180 ft. in a ¼ mile to a open area on the south shore of Bear Canyon Lake. I hiked counter-clockwise, to take photographic advantage of the morning sun. There was water in the southeast drainage, but I crossed it dry. Turning north, I edged past a couple guys fishing for rainbow trout. 
The unnumbered trail on the east side of Bear Canyon Lake does get indistinct at times, but generally speaking is within 30 ft. horizontal and 10 ft. vertical of the lake surface. Sometimes the trail is right next to the lake, literally within inches. It’s not a scramble, but I took care negotiating rocky outcroppings to avoid a wet tumble.
The Mogollon Rim got snow just a week ago, so I was not expecting a good flower hunt. I was happy I found what I did. Spotted along the middle third of both banks of Bear Canyon Lake, Arizona valerian was the only flower I noticed in more than one place. I found about nine species, all told. Lichen were common though.
While I was hiking up the east side of Bear Canyon Lake, I saw an Arizona DPS rescue helicopter, no more than 500 ft. up. He did a lap and a half around the lake, then disappeared. My wife said later she worried he was looking for me! 
I got to the dam at the north end of Bear Canyon Lake at 10:30. Hiking the east side took longer than I expected. I knew I wouldn’t have time to explore the drainages and be back to FR 208 by 11:30. (My wife had an early flight on Friday, and I wanted to be considerate, as she makes so many of my hikes possible.)
Halfway south on Bear Canyon Lake Trail #112, there was some kind of rope & stick contraption tied to a tree. It looked like a booby trap, but I’m sure it was a rope swing. Despite being more distinct, there were still a few places where you could lose Trail #112. If you stay within 50 ft. horizontal and 30 ft. vertical of Black Canyon Lake, and look for the next blue diamond, you’ll be okay.
When I arrived back at the south end of the lake, it was already after noon. It was unseasonably warm for the Mogollon Rim — 81° on Rim Road an hour later — so imagine my surprise at finding snow along the bank of the creek. Schweet! 
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My wife & I stopped at Fatso’s Pizza on way home, to pickup dinner and knock off the sweat with an ice cold Pabst. Fatso’s is a casual neighborhood place, not a dive bar. While waiting, the weirdo next to me was talking to himself. Not just one muttered curse at a strikeout on the TV, but a whole conversation. I swear, if Milton had mumbled about his red Swingline stapler I would have lost it!
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/547129273 |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Arizona valerian, woodland strawberry, Canadian white violet, alpine pennycress, and three species I am not as sure of. (See photoset.) |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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