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| Windy Dome Bushwhack Loop, AZ | |
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| | Windy Dome Bushwhack Loop, AZ | | | |
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Windy Dome Bushwhack Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 12.29 Miles |
3,110 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.29 Miles | 8 Hrs 4 Mns | | 1.75 mph |
| 3,110 ft AEG | 1 Hour 2 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | My heart wasn't in this from the get-go. Traveling across the entire valley to Usery or the Goldfields is stopping short of hikes I prefer. Nobody likes bushwhacking and the wind is my nemesis. On the bright side, a different pair of wind goggles worked much better than what I'd been using.
This was my first visit to the Bulldog vicinity so it was good to finally see where throngs of valley hikers explore. It was my assumption the area was a trashed wasteland. Everything I saw was leaps and bounds better than anticipated.
We hiked FR10 to the westside of the Dome peaks with a mini foray into Bulldog Canyon along the way to cutout road walk. The twin Dome mountains never caught my attention being just a half-mile apart. It makes sense though, the north is in Stewart Mtn topo and the south is in Apache Junction topo.
We hiked Satan's Windtunnel Backyard to the saddle between the peaks. Skipped the south/3269/3239 and headed for the north/3381. The route is well cairned and we were on top much quicker than anticipated (from the saddle). I'm sure it's great and all but I just wanted to leave.
When all seemed hopeless, we dropped down to the guzzler. Out of the wind, it seemed odd this might be the highlight of the day but boy was I happy to travel with full vision. Then up to a saddle for lunch with a crow serenading. After lunch, the pace finally picked up roller coastering mini high points of a ridge. Kinna like highjacking a preschool edition to the motherlode (at warp speed, the peaks are maybe 50 ft tall... lol).
Somebody suggested cutting down and over. Like any ignorant wide-eyed group of fools, we agreed in unison to give it a go. Now into the flipside of Satan's Backyard and sick on the poisoned lure with the stupidity of real men don't backtrack, Bruce sold it as a tibber track so we forged onward.
With another option to change the course we wearily voted on another shortcut. After a short break to pray for forgiving terrain, we gave it a go. Luck finally kicked in and it was a freeway route to the Official Route. |
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