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| Hiking | 5.58 Miles |
1,071 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.58 Miles | 2 Hrs 50 Mns | | 2.26 mph |
| 1,071 ft AEG | 22 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| no partners | | Ambika and Guru had to work today so I took out on one of two hikes by myself while in Sedona. I last did this in 2012 (May 19th). I also missed one of the photos that I took in 2012 that I wish I had gotten this time as well [ photo ] . I should learn to re-read my trip reports when I re-do a hike so many years later.
Anyway, I was one of the last vehicles to get a parking spot. There was a line when I arrived; I had forgotten about that too. I started hiking on the Soldier Pass Trail which I think is the easier way to do the "up" part of this Loop. As usual I made the touristy stops at the Devil's Kitchen and Seven Pools. I had forgotten that the rock formation hovering over the Kitchen was called the Sphinx that is also part of the Morning Glory Spire.
Once past the pools there weren't many folks at all. I saw where the Teacup Trail intersected with this one as it is kind of part of the big Thunder Mountain Loop one can take. It was nice hiking in and out of the trees with their limited shade and of course, it smelled great. As I got closer to the turn off for the caves/arches, there were quite a few more people. I would like to get up there someday but I think the ideal time would be when the sun is more to the south and west... for lighting purposes.
I continued on and would mostly be by myself except for 3 other people and their dog. They didn't really have a plan so I told them what I was doing which they eventually ended up doing as well; however, they got ahead of me. The views are just wonderful in every direction really and the climb is gradual except for that last little piece at the end. The mesa is great and is filled in quite a bit more with scrub, mostly manzanita. There are a few fir trees on the north side but the rest has little tree growth that I could see (per the 2006 fire).
I went over to what I call the Blonde Bench rock and hung out there for awhile. There had been others on the bench earlier but I was by myself. The 360 up here is pretty impressive. Brins Ridge/Butte was particularly nice looking today; maybe it's filled in more during the last nine years. Once back over to the trail, it becomes more of a road as you make your way SSE. Once I started down the hill I would start encountering a lot more hikers. It was a little warm so I was glad to be going down this hill altho I was looking into the sun so that wasn't the best for photos. It did seem like each leg of my journey featured a pretty agave and the hill was no exception.
As I reached the bottom the trail widened significantly and the tall trees thickened. Once I made the turn for Cibola Pass the trail narrowed as I made the gradual trek up the Pass. It is worth a glance back to see the rock formations to the east but I couldn't get a decent picture as the light was wonky. Also, my phone camera said it was too hot to take any more photos. I had been taking video also and I think it also didn't like being stuck in the inside of my waist pack rather than the outer pocket.
I headed down the pass and would once again start encountering more people as I made my way over to the TH. There is this one junction with the Jordan Trail where I almost went south instead of north. The sign for Soldiers Pass TH is no longer there. Another couple was a little confused as well but we all figured it out and continued over to the TH. There was now parking spaces available.
I actually did some videos and managed to take three movies full. I have to once again state that the stabilizer on this Ultra 20 phone is outstanding. It's so nice not to have to stabilize the videos like I have to do with my camera.
Part 1 featuring Soldiers Pass [ youtube video ]
Part 2 to the Bench [ youtube video ]
Part 3 from the Bench [ youtube video ]
I have one more report to do from my week in Sedona about my Thunder Mountain Loop high points hike but I'm off to Idaho Montana Idaho. Sadly the only hiking on this trip is picking up the decorations from the three cemeteries around Cottonwood, ID altho I might try to get some walking done around the homestead in MT. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Agaves budding. Prickly Pear and about three different flowers in isolated areas I couldn't ID |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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