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| Hiking | 10.59 Miles |
1,165 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.59 Miles | 3 Hrs 48 Mns | | 2.79 mph |
| 1,165 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | From Big Bug TH to Orme Rd. is a shuttle hike of 15.2 miles, 1750 AEG. Too far for my taste. After hiking the previous segment [ photoset ] , I scouted a route to drive up to the BCT from Old Sycamore Rd., but the route was blocked by a keypad-locked gate. After some map recon, I settled on hiking the segment half way, then heading out on another jeep trail to meet my shuttle at the Old Sycamore Rd. substation.
Having your shuttle meet you at that halfway point is legal -- there are no "no tresspassing" signs -- but it would require require 4WD, high clearance, and a fair amount of skill.
This hike, both on the BCT, and the jeep trail out to the substation, alternates climbing small ridges, with crossing small washes. It's not flat, but neither is it too difficult.
I counted eight gates along the way. The variety of gate solutions is fascinating: Everything from simple saguaro ribs with barbwire loop, to ranch-branded with slant bolts, to elaborate combos of swing gate (for horses) and MTB rollover.
The most common vegetation was prickly pear cactus, catclaw and juniper. I had to pay attention to spot any flowers.
At 4⅔ miles, the trail reaches an unnumbered jeep trail. There is no fiberglass pole sign indicating where on the other side the BCT continues. Turn left, through the green-painted tube gate with the X and sideways B (X Lazy B Ranch [ youtube video ] ) on it, then immediately right, back onto singletrack. The ranch is visible in the canyon below. 
After eating lunch, I looked for a dry way across the Agua Fria River, which is the six mile mark. The river was 2-3″ deep and 10 ft. wide, so I ending up getting one foot wet. (I never got a blister, so it’s all good.) Beating my way through catclaw, on a very old jeep trail, back to the Black Canyon Trail, I crossed an old cement bridge that was still in great shape. It’s marked on the GPS route attached above.
After a short climb up from the Agua Fria River, the BCT crosses two jeep trails, a ¼ mile apart. At the second jeep trail, 7¼ miles into the hike, I turned right. (Continuing on the BCT takes you to Russian Well and, eventually, Orme Rd.) The descent to Brushy Wash was steep and slippery.
The half mile long substation is visible along much of the jeep trail. After crossing another short ridge, the jeep trail descends to Yarber Wash, home to Yarbo Well. The tank was dry, but the two metal boxes were both nearly full. Not sure why it’s called Yarbo Well when it is next to Yarber Wash … 
After a final short ridge climb out of Yarber Wash, the jeep trail follows high tension powerlines to the substation on Old Sycamore Rd. Until I saw my wife at the trailhead, I had not seen another human being all day: Not a mountain biker, dog walker, jogger or horse rider. That’s my kind of hike!
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/692562166 |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Gooding’s verbena, redstem stork’s bill, desert evening primrose, lily, blackfoot daisy, red barberry, and an unknown shrub with brittlebush-like flowers and fir-like leaves. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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