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| | Dixie Mountain Loop plus, AZ | | | |
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Dixie Mountain Loop plus, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.38 Miles |
1,185 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.38 Miles | 2 Hrs 34 Mns | | 2.88 mph |
| 1,185 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I'm typing this 3-26-2022, the hike was last Tuesday. I had planned Union Peak but decided it was a little warmer than I liked and I hadn't practiced enough elevation for that... at least that's what I told myself. In fact, I told myself I would stick with just the loop today but...
I headed up Hawk's Nest Trail hoping to see Mama Owl. She was there but sleeping so no pictures as all I could see was feathers. So up the hill I continued to the junction with Dixie Mountain Loop. I opted to go counterclockwise as I think I went clockwise the last time. It's always a little longer to the junction with Valle Vista than I remember. I encountered a few hikers here and there for most of the hike.
Now that I was warmed up, I decided I needed to do at least one of these peaks so I opted for Dixie Peak and up I went. It's actually a pretty easy climb but that false summit gets me every time  . I didn't stay long and headed back down where another couple was coming up. The older gentleman was carrying all the water; they were from CO as I saw them park next to me as I was leaving.
Next it was around a corner and then another before heading down (west). There were some small wildflowers here but really not enough to shoot photos. I was especially disappointed as I got in the lower depression on the western side where there is normally a nice display of wildflowers to find NADA! It was also near here that I reached my decision to go back to experiencing my hikes and if I do it at a good rate of speed or for exercise, good for me. Whew. Now we'll see how I do enacting the decision.
I headed up to Cholla Saddle and resisted the urge to take a photo  . You that have hiked here know how hard that is to walk by with no photo. I headed up the west side and managed well so decided to extend my hike and continued east. And as always there's that extra corner before I headed down the Valle Vista Trail. As I neared the bottom I got a call from my Financial Advisor and former boss. I think that's the second time he's caught me out hiking.
I finished this trail quickly because of the conversation, an advantage one gets when hiking with someone else. I headed south and west on the Desert Tortoise Trail and as I got over the crest of the hill I saw a bunch of hikers in front of me. I would soon catch them and have to Beep Beep my way through 25 people. It was getting warm by this time judging by the next three male hikers I saw as I got closer to the TH; they were shirtless. Sometimes half-naked on the trail is a good thing, sometimes not. This was a good one out of three; not that I'm judgmental about such things  .
I enjoyed my Huckleberry Lager Beer; I have one left of that brand. It was a good hike and I feel like I get my money's worth, so to speak. Heading to Kona and Waikiki in early April so if you would like to offer up any hiking ideas for me, feel free.
WATCH: 7.21 miles (high point 2302/ low point 1620) avg bpm 137/max 162 (13% at level 4 anaerobic, 54% at level 3 aerobic, 33% at level 2 weight control) burning 1100 calories. Starting temp 66.1 and sunny with 14% humidity finishing at 11:54AM |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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