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| Snowshoeing | 8.23 Miles |
773 AEG |
| | Snowshoeing | 8.23 Miles | 4 Hrs 28 Mns | | 1.99 mph |
| 773 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Another ADOT statewide closure prevented the opportunity to get some fresh tracks yesterday after another foot of snow. The cold weather continues to provide some lower-than-typical snowshoeing opportunities, and I decided to check out an all-time unique for me. At only 6500 and sun-exposed terrain, this is not a spot that typically holds snow for very long, but this winter is different.
The challenge this year has been safe parking, and this one has some nearby residential options where breaks in the highway snowbank provide a chance to get off the road a bit.
Just as I was getting started I saw two guys snowshoeing up out of the canyon! For the first time in my Arizona life, somebody had broken trail ahead of me!  Suddenly it was going to be an extra nice day  .
We chatted for a minute before I headed downhill in their tracks, following them to Fisher Point, and then breaking trail for another mile or so as the canyon narrowed. The open meadow along Sandy and the AZT was settled and only about 18" deep when I checked in a very exposed area. But around the corner in Walnut Canyon the snow was over pole deep, easily into the 40s.
After going about four miles I cleared a spot to sit and enjoy a lunch break, before retracing my steps back to the truck.
I took the scenic drive home. Coconino County abandoned winter plowing of Lake Mary Road, forcing all traffic around the Mormon Lake Village loop. There's as much snow here right now as I've seen anywhere in Arizona ... ever. The road is in desperate need of the snow-blower type removal that you typically see in snowier parts of the world. The snow banks were just too high for the plow, and much of the road was down to one lane wide. Fun stuff!!
Took a break to wash the underside of my truck on the way home and met up with friends in FH for dinner. All around great day. |
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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