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| Seven Springs Rd Side Track, AZ | | -
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| | Seven Springs Rd Side Track, AZ | | | |
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Seven Springs Rd Side Track, AZ
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| Hiking | 3.72 Miles |
1,288 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.72 Miles | 5 Hrs 34 Mns | | 0.96 mph |
| 1,288 ft AEG | 1 Hour 42 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This was my third hike to this area on the east side of Seven Springs Road since February of last year. On one of those previous hikes @LosDosSloFolks and I had planned to visit 2 ancient habitation sites accessed off of the Maricopa Trail. We both wimped out before reaching the second site because of the steep off-trail descent and climb back up from its location. This time I partnered with my Grandson, Michael, who has proven his ability to push his Grandpa to new levels of endurance and to conquer his fear of perilous terrain.
We parked at a small pullout across the road from Camp Creek, my usual starting location to connect with this section of the Maricopa Trail from the Bronco Trailhead to the Bartlett Dam Road. We wasted some time scouring the parking area for money - I found a $5 bill the last time I was here. Then we crossed the creek and hiked up to the Maricopa Trail where it was a quick jaunt to our off-trail starting location for the hike up the hill to the first site. There was an icy cold wind blowing and Michael kept dodging behind any wind break he could find while waiting for his sweating Granddad to catch up. We made a quick visit of the first site, several rooms, one with waist high walls. Somewhat amazing because of the size of the rocks used in its construction. Many appeared too heavy for a single person to lift into place.
As we started up the hill to the first site I pointed out to Michael our second destination on a bluff which juts out above Camp Creek. Leaving the first site, he took it upon himself to strike a more direct route traversing a steep hillside and threading our way past several cliff outcroppings. My plan had been to climb to the top of Peak 4456 and then down to the second site. But obviously he did not care to climb up to the top of the peak with its exposure to the cold wind. His route turned out to be less strenuous but a little nerve-racking. Crossing the saddle to start the climb to the ruin I found a few pottery sherds but would not find any in the ruin. The ruin is a massively thick semi-circular rock wall with the open side facing the top of a cliff. The area inside the semi-circle was devoid of any habitation ruins and scoured clear of most loose rocks. We did not find any pottery sherds indicating that the ancients probably did not live inside the walls. The enclosed area within the wall was only about 50 feet wide at the open side of the semicircle facing the cliff edge. The site's location on the edge of the bluff gave it a wide view of the valley below and an unobstructed view of the Sears Kay Ruin. So perhaps its purpose was as a lookout for intruders.
We discussed some options for our return route to the car. Both of us prefer to make a loop out of any off-trail hike rather than retracing our route. We, actually Michael, decided to take a more direct route straight down a wash to Camp Creek, then bushwhack along the east bank of Camp Creek to arrive back at our starting location. So off we went with Michael leading the way. The wash had several pour offs so we had to abandon it for the sidehills and find ways around cliff outcroppings but finally found a safe route following a cow trail. This route led us to Camp Creek in an isolated section of the canyon with a half dozen or more homes on a locked gate road (private property). I was too tired to bushwhack through a thicket of catclaw and cactus along the creek bank so opted for walking back on the private road to reach Seven Springs Road and our parked car. It was an easy walk on that road (FR3207) to Seven Springs Road and we had no incidents with any homeowners despite a barking dog and an old gentleman climbing the stairs to his front door - he apparently didn't see us and maybe he couldn't hear his dog. And, so ended another fun hike with my Grandson. |
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