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| Hiking | 14.29 Miles |
3,433 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.29 Miles | 8 Hrs 39 Mns | | 2.17 mph |
| 3,433 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 4 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | I haven't done much hiking in the eastern Superstitions, and this one looked like a good option before the summer heat arrives. This was a longer variation of the Tule Loop route, and we hiked clockwise from Tule Trailhead, which was empty as we got started. The first mile was relatively flat along Tule #122, then it was a steady climb for the next few miles. We had great views of Two Bar mountain for much of the hike, and Roosevelt became more visible as we gained elevation. I kept an eye out for the arch along Tule but didn't notice it until we were above it and past it...by the time we spotted it, it was tough to tell it was an arch from that angle.
There were plenty of wildflowers still blooming, especially along the last mile or two before the Tule/Two Bar intersection and again on the approach to Pinyon Mountain. After turning onto Two Bar, we gave up some of the elevation we'd gained before the trail started ascending again toward Pinyon. We passed one other hiker resting in the shade just south of the peak, and that was the only person we saw all day.
The off-trail portion up to the peak was straightforward...no major obstacles or sharp brush along the way. I found the azimuth mark on the way up, and the full length of Roosevelt Lake came into view along the ridge. There was a small register at the peak, placed in 2017 with a single sheet of paper inside...the only HAZ name I recognized was the most recent entry, Jordyn W. from last November.
[ youtube video ]
We ate lunch and enjoyed the 360° views from the summit while battling aggressive lady bugs, and we found the Pinyon benchmark and two reference marks before we started down the ridge east from the peak. The descent wasn't bad, either...a little more brush to dodge on that side, but not overly steep. We reconnected with the trail near an AZT gate and then hiked to Two Bar Trailhead and down FR 83. Long stretches of the road were in good shape, but a few spots were washed out and deeply rutted, so high clearance 4x4 is definitely needed to drive to that trailhead.
The last five miles went quickly on the jeep roads, though the final half mile was a little slower as we left the road to cut back to Tule TH. Not much in the way of unique wildlife today, but we did scatter a lot of cows near the windmill and Schoolhouse Tank at the end. I was happy with the choice of locations today and want to get back out to this area again soon...there's a lot more to see. Coincidentally, I went to Sheep Mountain in the Mazatzals last weekend, and I noticed the guide for Tule Loop was authored by GPS Joe. |
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