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| Hiking | 7.63 Miles |
609 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.63 Miles | 3 Hrs 11 Mns | | 2.53 mph |
| 609 ft AEG | 10 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | With all the closures, I opted to do a loop out at San Tan MRP. My idea was to hit the San Tan Trail and Loop it around clockwise with the Gold Mine Trail.
I was going to just bring my phone, but at the last minute, I grabbed my old Nikon and my longer lens, "just in case" I saw some critters. Birds, snakes, perhaps?
I arrived at 5am and started off. The horizon to the east look completely clouded over. About .6 miles down, I started noticing some nice colors coming from the sunrise. So, I abandoned my hike, temporarily, and went off trail looking for some photo opportunities. And, Mother Nature did not disappoint. A very nice sunrise.
Once the color show ended, I went back to the hike. Lots of mountain bikers, trail runners and hikers out today. Not that many on the south side of the loop, but the closer I got to the main section, it became one after another. The heat was coming and I wanted to finish up around 8am, and I think a bunch of other folks had the same idea.
This park is what it is. I prefer the southern section, but the Gold Mine Trail going up when you start from the north is a nice little section. Otherwise, it's flat and mostly not as scenic as other areas. But, It is very popular with the bikers and runners, that is for sure.
I have done every trail in this park more than a couple times. I guess beggars cannot be choosers, with all the closures from fires this year. And, to be fair, I really enjoyed the hike this morning. Even with all the traffic, it certainly met my needs to get in some exercise.
So, a nice sunrise, a visit to my favorite crested saguaro, some good exercise and fresh air, a Saturday morning well spent. |
| _____________________
"Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul."
instagram: @andydilling |
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