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| General Crook V43-V51, AZ | |
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| | General Crook V43-V51, AZ | | | |
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General Crook V43-V51, AZ
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| Hiking | 12.06 Miles |
1,558 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.06 Miles | 4 Hrs 57 Mns | | 2.44 mph |
| 1,558 ft AEG | | | | |
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none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I originally planned to hike from General Springs Cabin (V43) to FR 295E (V53). The night before, I scaled it back two miles to FR 137. Good thing I did!
I started hiking a 9:00 a.m., @The_Eagle’s route from the cabin, past the spring. I didn’t see a single trail marker in over a mile. No sooner had I recorded a note to that affect, than right in front of me I saw a chevron. Turning the opposite direction, I saw a second chevron, and a path past that. I had bumped into the proper route. 
I followed the path past the second chevron, ¾ of mile downhill, to just above the battle memorial. Proper General Crook Trail route established, I turned around and headed back to where I picked it up. (The attached GPS file contains the correct route.)
If I hadn’t scaled back my hike, I might not have finished until dark. Thankfully, once I picked up the trail, it was fairly obvious. At times, it even looked groomed, like by a Mini Cat or compacting machine.
I found V45 just before crossing Rim Rd., 1¾ miles from General Springs Cabin. It was 100 yds. before where previous information indicated. At 2¼ miles, @The_Eagle’s route diverted left on FR 300F. After some consideration, I continued on the trail.
V46 was just past that FR 300G, approaching Dude Lake -- which was bone dry. I never found V47.
It was VERY windy all day, even when not directly on the Rim, at the top of a canyon.
At the Dry Dude Creek observation point, an orange ribbon marks the trail’s route over a steep little hill.
I found V48 a mile later, five miles into this segment, just before the Bonita Creek OP. The trail through the Dude Fire moonscape was obvious.
V49 is 200 yds. east of FR 145. When you cross a road, pay attention to where the trail resumes on the far side: I built at least three small cairns to help, including on FR 321 at 6¾ miles. Which, I should mention, was my tenth mile, due to all my backtracking. (My hike stats typically exceed the route by ~25%). 
The trail disappeared on the east side of FR 321. There were no chevrons either. I followed the occasional orange ribbon, which indicated what I believed to be the proper route.
Just before V50, I found a chevron, and just past it picked up the trail. At 7¾ miles, the trail splits right to cross Rim Rd. for at least the dozenth time.
The trail is only briefly on the south side of Rim Rd., as it passes through the burn area above Ellison Creek. (Which was the windiest canyon yet!) The final 300 yds. of this segment, to FR 137, are on Rim Rd. Mile marker V51 is somewhere just a few yards northwest of that intersection. Search as I might, I couldn’t find it — unless it was that piece of moldy log?
So far, this has been my favorite General Crook Trail hike!
Vimeo has not been behaving well the last few months, so I opened a Rumble account. Need to start hedging my bets. If I had done that with YouTube back in the day, I wouldn't have had to reupload everything to Vimeo.
Compare & contrast 
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v3pfosw-hiking-gener ... 3-v51.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/874509260 |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Light
The oak were just beginning to change -- at least on top of the Rim. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Despite being late in the year, and after a poor monsoon, I spotted Mexican silene, hairy golden aster, Arizona thistle, New Mexico fleabane, Wheeler’s thistle, dandelion, fetid goosefoot, goldenrod, mullein, western yarrow, and what I believe was New Mexico fleabane. Plus others. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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