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| Hiking | 10.72 Miles |
2,087 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.72 Miles | 5 Hrs 17 Mns | | 2.04 mph |
| 2,087 ft AEG | 2 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Midweek I was leaning towards hiking South Mountain since I haven't been there in a while. Then on Thursday after the clouds cleared from the previous day's rain, it revealed snow on Four Peaks and the ridgeline north of it. I knew I wanted to go up there. I looked over the HAZ map for planning and on the satellite photos I saw a singletrack from the cabin north of Boulder Flat head northwest down to FR1704. I traced it out with a track until I lost it, then I saw it was already traced out on OpenTopo. OpenTopo also showed another singletrack loop east of the cabin, but that looked quite a bit longer.
I was the first one at the Ballantine TH and headed up just as no headlamp was needed. About a half mile up I looked down and saw another car pulling in. Around the 2.5 to 3 mile mark, I heard someone make a calling noise. I turned to look and no one was visible. I turned around again and the exact same call was made. Still not visible. Someone was messing around. I turned and started walking again. The trail took a turn and I had an opportunity to go off trail and up a hill to see who it was before they knew I was off trail. Instead I turned around again since I hadn't heard a 3rd call and the hikers showed themselves. Soon enough I was able to see it was Joe and Bruce, which I kind of suspect it might be.
"Are you guys doing the 32 mile loop today?"
"What? Oh. No, just 18."
"Ah."
Bruce had also discovered the loop east of the cabin and he and Joe were on a similar mission as me, but different trails, nearby. Funny how that worked out. They quickly left me for dead and we were on our separate ways.
I forgot how far it is up to Boulder Flat and how much work it is. I was thinking I might be able to knock out the entire unmarked trail and head back uphill to the cabin. I soon figured this would too much in a day. My plan was then to get to 5 miles and possibly turn around, making a respectable 10 mile hike. At the 5 mile mark, I had already descended close to 1000' from the highpoint saddle above the cabin. and the unmarked trail was very steep and loose in spots. Hiking the entire trail would put me at the 7.5-8 mile mark. I decided to do that and then hike the Beeline back to Ballantine. I wasn't really thrilled about hiking the Beeline, but I was less thrilled at hiking back uphill another 1000' and then making it down Ballantine, which would take time. I was also enjoying hiking a new trail I've never done and hiking downhill after a 2000'+ climb in 4 miles.
The unmarked trail is basically used and probably made by dirt bikers. The tire treads are visible pretty much the entire way. At the Pine Creek crossing I saw 3 dirt bikers who had stopped to rest by the stream. Some sections had a deep groove similar to that made on equestrian trails. Other spots were very rocky. I've been on worse trails, but this one obviously didn't have hikers in mind.
The views on the unmarked trail and Ballantine were amazing all day. Just enough snow at the high point of my hike to say I hiked in snow that morning, but didn't get my feet cold and wet. Temps were cool and breezy all day, making less of a need for water. Blue skies and clear air, perfect weather all around. Fun to see Joe and Bruce who had the same train of thought I did. |
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Route Editor
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