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| Ridgeback - Apache Vista Loop, AZ | |
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| | Ridgeback - Apache Vista Loop, AZ | | | |
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Ridgeback - Apache Vista Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 6.13 Miles |
804 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.13 Miles | 2 Hrs 10 Mns | | 2.90 mph |
| 804 ft AEG | 3 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | The weather and temp with a slight breeze was pretty much perfect as was the trail. It looks like they raked it which was a big project to undertake. Anyway, their work is appreciated as it does alleviate some of the rough edges as they say.
It was hard to keep moving because I was being dazzled and distracted by all of the green everywhere. I said I had to take pictures of all this because who knows when we'll see this level of golf-courseness again. I didn't see anyone on my way up to Ridgeback but did encounter three people on the way down the north side; which was unusual.
As I made my way over to Sidewinder I took notice of some flora, that one plant that looks like a tumbleweed. I'll have to work on getting a better photo so GL can help with the ID. It was as green over here as elsewhere. I said to myself, "self, you're not in the desert anymore"  except that the cactus reminds me I am still in the desert. It was a clear day and I could see clearly to the Four Peaks.
Getting near the cross over of Apache Wash connector, I noticed some bulbs on a Christmas Cholla and since I'm bound and determined to get a good picture, I shot several and used portrait mode. Portrait mode seems to be a little tricky as it will blur out too much of the edges but I did get a couple nice photos of some of the flora.
As I was hitting the top of Apache Vista my brother called and I was able to have a conversation out there with him despite the phone showing unstable connection. On my way around the northeast side I finally found a flower coming out of those big green leaved flora and GL helped me ID it as Fiddleneck. Well if the leaves are that big already, I can only imagine what they are going to look like when they start blooming in earnest.
As I came around the last corner I had a view to even more of the "how green is your valley", sheesh! I was having flashbacks of driving in Idaho this past year when I thought I was in Ireland. At the bottom, I took the long way back to Tonto 3. I reflected on what a glorious afternoon it was while enjoying a huckleberry libation. Hopefully the weather will hold out so I can hike Shaw Butte on Saturday... instead of Barbell class.
WATCH: 2:14-4:25PM, 5.98 miles, 1776-2235 elevation. 20% Zone 5 max, 28% Zone 4 anaerobic, 48% Zone 3 aerobic burning 808 calories. Temp 75.1 fair and only 13% humidity. |
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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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