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| Bill Williams - Bixler Combo, AZ | | -
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| | Bill Williams - Bixler Combo, AZ | | | |
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Bill Williams - Bixler Combo, AZ
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| Hiking | 12.25 Miles |
3,322 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.25 Miles | 6 Hrs 18 Mns | | 2.29 mph |
| 3,322 ft AEG | 57 Mns Break | 14 LBS Pack | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | it'd been 5 years since I'd hiked up here. With the furnace still cooking and rain chances higher on the rim, time for a redo.
We took the driving route through Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Paulden and Ash Fork, which Schmoogle said was the same driving time, but 18 miles closer. I thought it was interesting that we saw gas prices range from 4.09 to 5.69 along this route
The hike was as I remembered. Thick stands of ponderosa and other conifers, keeping you shaded and the breezes from getting to you. The lower sections have been recently thinned. The upper sections could used some thinning being the major watershed for Williams.
From the TH we climbed 1800' to the intersection with the Bixler Saddle Trail #72 where we turned.
Bixler provides some of the best views on the hike. Bixler is in decent shape, a little thin in spots, mainly because it does not get the traffic the Bill Williams Mountain trail gets. it's 1000' down and that same 1000' back up to the saddle.
From the saddle, there is another 1500' of gain to the top of ole' Billy. The saddle area contains a mix of old growth conifers and aspen. Many times we could hear the winds in the aspens, but could not feel it. On the way up, we stopped at the same rock outcropping as in other visits, to take in the views for lunch.
On the last bit to the top, following the road, there is quite a bit of evidence of a high wind event of some sort. The tops of many aspens have been snapped off.
The summit provides good views to the south and west.
We passed a few hikers on our way back down. It was in the low 80's back at the TH. |
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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