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| Hermit - Boucher Loop, AZ | | -
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| | Hermit - Boucher Loop, AZ | | | |
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Hermit - Boucher Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 25.86 Miles |
6,263 AEG |
| | Hiking | 25.86 Miles | 15 Hrs 55 Mns | | 2.14 mph |
| 6,263 ft AEG | 3 Hrs 49 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Laid in the hammock at Long Jim for a few hours before driving into the park and parking in Backcountry Lot. Biked the Rim Road and got a surprise rain shower along the way. Locked up bike at the racks near the restrooms and started down the trail at 3AM.
Hermit Trail
Last time I was out here I climbed up Hermit, so figured it was time to go down. Those stairs are steep. Made okay time, kept getting distracted by a thunderstorm out west. Large group of Moms at the Tonto junction who were gearing up to hike out after a few days at Monument Creek. Now that's a solid way to celebrate Mother's Day.
Hermit Creek
Booked over to the campsite & restrooms first to deal with some... gut issues. Need to stop doing fast food before these early mornings. After that unpleasantness, followed the creek directly down to the river from the campsite. Only one tricky spot that required down-climbing. The geology along the creek was super cool, that nonconformity was a pleasant surprise. Had breakfast at the river, than hiked up, this time sticking to the trail, which made for quick going.
Tonto Trail
Temps were already toasty at 9AM, and I kept looking around for the promised "more clouds than sun" forecast. Oh well. This section of Tonto is an easy cruise, some re-routes to navigate and plenty of wow moments. Travertine Canyon caught my attention, maybe accessible from the river? Something to look into for a future trip. Needed water refill at the end and continued to Boucher Creek - the marked spring before that was flowing loud enough to hear, accessing it would have been painful.
Boucher Trail
After a lengthy lunch break it was time to climb. Cloud cover helped with the heat, and I had a full 5 liters, so took my time. This trail is no joke. There were multiple sections, especially on the climbs, that were barely defined, with few cairns and faint tread. That second climb by upper Travertine was sketch, lots of loose rocks and dirt. Felt like it took forever to reach the long traverse. Eventually made it back to Hermit junction and crawled back up to the rim.
My stubborn plan was to bike out, even with the buses still running. After the third uphill section that my tired legs failed on, even on the lowest gear, I hopped on a bus at Mohave Point and then started the long drive home. |
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