DESTINATION Big Balanced Rock Trail 1 Photoset
2023-07-03 | |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 6.71 Miles |
1,471 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.71 Miles | 3 Hrs 3 Mns | | 2.20 mph |
| 1,471 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I did this hike on my way out of a 4 day/3 night trip to the Chiricahua mountains. My original plan was to hike Sugarloaf Peak on the way out, but I got to the visitor's center by Noon and thought Sugarloaf was too exposed and therefore TOO HOT. This hike at least had some shade in the canyon, supposedly. It was really too hot to do this hike for July but I really thought that I needed to see that "Big Balanced Rock" before I left or at least one of those cool rock formations that I saw photos of previously. So, I decided to start this hike around Noon. Within the first 10 minutes of hiking, I dropped down into the canyon (off trail) and had my lunch. Then, continued on the Lower Rhyolite canyon trail. It was a bit hot, but there were sections that were shaded. Higher up there wasn't much shade. When I got to the Sarah Deming trail, there was more shade overall, until I crossed the canyon, then I was in the sun. But, from this point, I only had another 0.5 miles to the junction of the Big Balanced Rock trail and then only needed to hike another 0.1 miles to get to the main attraction of this trail. The rock was very impressive and I'm glad I did this hike despite the intense heat. I definitely would have enjoyed this hike more had the temps been under 80 rather than 90 or whatever it was... I rested in the shade near the Big Balanced Rock for a few hours so that my hike down wouldn't be so miserable. After leaving the main attraction, I was in the sun for the first half mile. After crossing the canyon on the Sarah Deming trail, I was completely in the shade for the next 1+ miles. Then, shortly after getting onto the Lower Rhyolite Canyon trail, the sun re-appeared, but by this time it was nearly 5 pm. I finished the hike around 5:30 pm. I didn't see a single person the entire 7 mile hike, but I did hear some voice and see 2 hikers across the canyon on either the Echo canyon trail or the Upper Rhyolite canyon trail.
Because of the heat, I ended up carrying 1.25 gallons of fluids with me and ended up drinking it all by the time I was 0.5 miles from the Visitor's Center. I knew I would be able to get more water there. After finishing the hike, I bet I drank another quart of water, so that's 1.5 gallons just for this hike.
My Strava moving time was 3 hrs 3 mins. |
| _____________________
Michael Williams
IT Professional
Rocky Point Vacation Rentals
Ocean Front Condo in Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico
www.beachfrontmexico.us
 |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
