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| Little saddle / saddle mountain trail, AZ | |
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| | Little saddle / saddle mountain trail, AZ | | | |
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Little saddle / saddle mountain trail, AZ
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| Hiking | 14.14 Miles |
2,442 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.14 Miles | 6 Hrs 1 Min | | 2.54 mph |
| 2,442 ft AEG | 27 Mns Break | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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none
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| no partners | | | Nice Saturday hike up into the Mazzies! Started at the McFarland Trailhead, parking lot completely empty when I started at about 7:45am... about 65 degrees and not a cloud in the sky. Short hike up the "Cross F" trail to get to Little Saddle trail and this section of the AZ Trail. Headed north up Little Saddle trail (about 4 miles) where it ends at the Saddle Mountain trail. Little Saddle trail was very well maintained, though it doesnt look like it gets a ton of traffic... possibly because it is ALL UPHILL! Actually a really nice hike if you dont mind a little cardio. Once you get to Saddle Mountain Trail, you have the option to make a right (east) and take a short half-mile hike to the Morman Grove TH, or go left (west)... which is what I did to go towards Saddle mountain. The first mile or so continues uphill but is not as steep and is a really nice clear trail. Then it levels off for the last two miles and is a super pleasant, clear trail. Flat and fast with great views... really enjoyed this section. Took me about 3 hours to complete the 7-mile hike (one-way)... continued hiking up past Sheep Creek TH to a nice shady spot on the ridge to rest and hydrate. Great hike back (all downhill!) and ran into a group of AZ Trail section hikers just as I was finishing Little Saddle Mountain trail... at junction with Cross F Trail. They were getting off trail because of a text warning they had received from a police officer friend about a wild-fire coming up from the south! It was about six miles away but we could see the smoke rising off to the SW... definitely eye opening when you consider how fast these fires can move. I was very happy to be finishing my hike at that point... could have easily been caught on the trail if it had started earlier! I believe this is the fire they are tracking as the Maverick Fire. Anyway, I gave one of the hikers (Jason) a ride back to his truck parked in Sunflower so he could drive back and pick up his group to reassess their plans. Sorry their section hike plans were ruined, but, better safe than sorry! |
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