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| Hiking | 7.12 Miles |
533 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.12 Miles | 3 Hrs 3 Mns | | 2.33 mph |
| 533 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | From now on, I am following the chevrons nailed into trees by the Boy Scouts in 1976.
A quarter mile past Kehl Spring Campground, there is a pullout on the left, that you can park in if you don’t want to pay the campground’s $8 day use fee. That's where I followed a chevron onto what appeared to be old trail. The trail soon disappeared in an old burn area, tangled with slash and wild raspberry. Not for the last time, the chevrons also disappeared. I picked my way through the path of least resistance to FR 141.
On FR 300, just past the yellow “sharp curves-next 2 miles” signs, are two chevrons, seeming to indicate the General Crook Trail heads off road to the right. I went that way, except it was even more tangled, and comes back to Rim Road in 200 yds. anyway. Not worth it.
Just past FR 300K, I followed a chevron right, onto what seemed to be trail. The route was ferns and grass, crossed by small logs. The trail seemed to peter out after ¼ mile, so I got back on FR 300. Looking at the route on satellite view, I think it is actually the flat upper reaches of a wash that drops over the Rim.
I followed @The_Eagle ‘s route where it cut a sharp FR 300 corner, just to get my feet on ungroomed terrain. You should follow the road instead. In fact, I recommend staying on FR 300 from FR 141 until you are past FR 501. It may not make for the most exciting hiking, however you can’t beat the views. There are multiple fantastic observation points. You will move much quicker and, when you want to take time, you can take it all in and enjoy it. 
Starting at mile marker V39, and hiking just under four miles, mile marker V43 — or at least General Springs — should be in sight. Not so. But to the left is a chevron leading to what appears to be old wagon road. Though the trail crosses FR 300 twice in the next half mile, it was the most pleasant, shady, part of today’s hike.
You can hike the Trail #130 for quite awhile without seeing a chevron or mile marker. And I was looking. Often standing in one place, and slowly scanning. I think many of the trail markers the Boy Scouts placed in 1976 have since been logged, burnt in wildfires, or plowed over while widening FR 300. At least there were chevrons along FR 123.
Just past the cold deck, Trail #130 takes a sharp right turn, which is marked by a chevron that points sideways. That’s the first time I recall a directional blaze on this trail. I did my scanning thing, but saw no further blazes as I passed through the logging slash, down to FR 705 / Pipeline Road, then on to General Springs.
My wife was waiting for me at the cabin, where she was having a good talk with Deena and her friendly pup. Deena was camping there while her husbad Steve, and other Arizona Trail volunteers, were somewhere up the ATA doing trail maintenance. I don't know if Shawn has said anything, but the ATA just announced (7/27) they are looking for a new trail director.
Hiking Video: https://vimeo.com/849909435 |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Arizona thistle were most common. Norwegian cinquefoil (maybe woolly), paintbrush, hairy golden aster, alpine false springparsley, Richardson’s geranium, Wheeler’s thistle, lupine and dandelion. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
