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| Round the Mountain Trail #302, AZ | | -
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| | Round the Mountain Trail #302, AZ | | | |
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Round the Mountain Trail #302, AZ
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| Hiking | 12.20 Miles |
3,288 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.20 Miles | 6 Hrs 39 Mns | | 2.13 mph |
| 3,288 ft AEG | 56 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I spent a couple of days in the Pinaleno Mountains hiking along the eastern slopes. My plan was to hike the Round the Mountain Trail from the Swift Trail to the Fry Canyon Area. Day one was to be from Noon Creek area to Deadman Ridge for a 14 mile round trip. In reality I hiked in 6 miles to just below Deadman Ridge and called it quits. I still had to get back out. This trail is nothing but straight up and then straight down with a lot of fantastic views along the way.
Started out at the Round The Mountain Trail Head along the Swift Trail Road just up from the Noon Creek camping area. Room at the road for 2 or three cars to park but I was the only one there so no problem. The trail head is signed indicating, Marijilda Canyon 3.5 miles, Gibson Trail 4.5 miles, Deadman Canyon 9 miles and Inception 11 and Columbine 17 miles. The trail is in excellent condition with 3 people working the trail at about .5 miles in just before noon Creek. From the creek the trail heads up about 1000 feet to Marijilda Ridge. Steady climb but the trail is in good condition. At the crest there are great views overlooking Marijilda Canyon almost straight down below. My main thought was “They want me to climb all the way down there (almost 1000 feet) then back up to Deadman Ridge up 1800 feet.” Oh well what else have I got to do. I noticed on the hike up to the ridge a set of what looked like Mountain lion prints heading in the opposite direction along the trail, It wasn’t until I headed down into Marijilda Canyon the prints in the snow confirmed it. I would see these prints all along the trail until I got down into the canyon. Guess it was heading from one canyon to the other in the opposite direction of me, either earlier in the morning or last night. Interesting to ponder that while I didn’t see it, It probably was saw me. This probably occurs more often then we realize.
The trail is in good condition all the way to the intersection of the Gibson Trail from then on it gets hard to follow and after a while I decided to turn back. I was unaware of the Gibson Trail and it offers an option to hike to Deadman Ridge and Canyon on another hike. There is an old sign at the junction with the Gibson Trail as it heads on up to mount Graham. Part is on the post the other part on the ground. Further up the Round The Mountain Trail is the junction with the Gibson Canyon Trail as it heads down canyon. I am not sure of the condition of the Round the Mountain Trail after this point, I followed it for about another mile getting off trail a few times but eventually finding it again. Has anyone been on this trail in the past year or so? Starting to have my doubts about the existence of this trail further north.
There was water flowing in Noon, Marijilda and Gibson Creeks, not enough to hinder crossing though. Snow was still on the north facing slopes along the trail but the most I saw was about an inch. No one on the trail except the trail crew I encountered early in the morning. I will be staying in Safford tonight for another adventure tomorrow. |
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