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| Cottonwood Trail 247-247A Loop, AZ | |
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| | Cottonwood Trail 247-247A Loop, AZ | | | |
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Cottonwood Trail 247-247A Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 6.78 Miles |
1,068 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.78 Miles | 3 Hrs 26 Mns | | 2.12 mph |
| 1,068 ft AEG | 14 Mns Break | | | |
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| Partners |
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none
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| no partners | | Felt the need to hike in the boonies and this loop close to home was perfect. CCW loop starting from Spur Cross Ranch utilizing 247A and 247B in the Tonto National Forest to gain access to Cottonwood Trail 247. This took me back west to the creek and a return south to Spur Cross Ranch.
The tread conditions of 247, A, and B were the best I've ever seen. I credit and thank the horsemen for the much needed maintenance and erosion repair. There's still a lot of sticky, pokey, grabby things encroaching in places, so long pants are the better choice IMO. After the climb up to the junction of 247 I was feeling pretty good about my effort and the reward of being so isolated from my fellow man.
Thirty seconds later I ran into a hiker (in his mid to late 80's!) coming up 247 from the west. We both said we didn't expect to see another soul up here and had a laugh. He said I'd run into his wife who was lagging a half mile or so behind him. I did stop and chat with her also when we crossed paths. She was very surprised to see me too.
Hiking 247 from creek to the east is a tough uphill slog. I felt like genuflecting to them.  Sure hope I'm up there doing that in another 20 years! |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Light
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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| "If you wait, all that happens is you get older" |
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