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| Hiking | 5.76 Miles |
2,506 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.76 Miles | 5 Hrs 55 Mns | | 1.20 mph |
| 2,506 ft AEG | 1 Hour 6 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Third time hiking Quartz Peak. Looking at my past triplogs I have been doing this trail about every 3 years.
Based on the triplog from @azhiker96 I decided that it would be safest to drive in from Goodyear rather than risk uncertain road conditions. We followed google's recommended route and a set of tire tracks towards the trailhead. The dirt "road" was long and in places narrow, rutted and generally slow going. The parking at the trailhead was nearly full, but there were the last two spots open for our two vehicles. Toilet was in good shape, that is not smelly and there was TP. We took the Southern route out because all those cars at the trailhead didn't make the one set of tire tracks we followed in, and it was just fine. There was one wash that was a little intimidating, but nothing that looked scary for my Jeep Cherokee. Maybe all the cars that came in that way smoothed the way for us.
After a late start and the slow drive in from the north we finally hit the trail at 10:30. The trail was longer and steeper than I remembered. I'm pretty sure I felt the same way last time too. But the area is beautiful and well worth it. Brittlebush was blooming along the trail as well as other wildflowers. No poppies. Lots of lizards on the trail everywhere. It seemed that every few steps another lizard scurried away before I stepped on the rock it was sunning on. Lizards that were just off the trail just sat there and watched us trudge past them only moving if we got very close.
I love it on top of the cool white rock of the peak. Awesome 360 degree view. Also, like so many popular hikes, there was a fat squirrel begging for food at the top. He had absolutely no fear of people. As we sat on the peak enjoying the view he came right up to us. He would definitely have taken food out of our hands had we offered any, but we didn't. He appeared well fed and didn't need it.
Up was tough, and down was just as difficult. The trail is covered with rocks and much of it is steep enough that you have to go slow to avoid wiping out. It just seems endless, but finally we made it back to the cars and celebrated with some cold beers. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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