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| El Tour De Sierra Empire, AZ | | -
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| | El Tour De Sierra Empire, AZ | | | |
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El Tour De Sierra Empire, AZ
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| Hiking | 10.45 Miles |
1,234 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.45 Miles | 4 Hrs 47 Mns | | 2.38 mph |
| 1,234 ft AEG | 24 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | El Tour De Sierra Empire
I live within 30 minutes of these mountains and have really never been to them. I hiked the east side in Las Cienegas and the West side in the Santa Rita Mountains but never in the Empire Mountains. This hike is along dirt roads and will circle around the eastern most ridge with a stop at the Total Wreck Mine. The Empires are a low lying desert range with a max elevation of about 5000 feet. This was ranching land with some scattered mining. Main ore was silver but there was also gold, copper, lead and Molybdenum. The mines are still there and if you dare you could venture in, not recommended. The shafts are also there and these are scary enough looking that you don’t probably have to be told to stay clear.
Not a real interesting hike as all of it is along dirt roads. About 1/3 of the roads were along underground Gas pipeline roads, and these were the worst because they go straight up and down every little creek and gully they cross. For those who don’t want to walk it I guess you could drive. The property around this area is along State Trust, Federal Government (assuming BLM land) and a mix of private property (usually to one side or the other of the road). The geology of the empires is interesting mainly limestone that has been thrust up at an angle.
It was a bit warm (75 – 80) for this hike but luckily there was a strong breeze later in the day that made it bearable. No water along the way except at a site of an old windmill that has gone solar, the cattle trough was full. |
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