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| | Mormon Grove to Squaw Flat, AZ | | | |
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Mormon Grove to Squaw Flat, AZ
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| Hiking | 10.32 Miles |
1,618 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.32 Miles | 5 Hrs 7 Mns | | 2.14 mph |
| 1,618 ft AEG | 18 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Chapter 1: Prequel
It's been over a decade since Tracey had been on this part of Passage #22 of the Arizona Trail and to refresh her memory she pondered an all-day semi-loop hike out to AZT #22 via Cornucopia from Forest Road #25/25A, then hit AZT #22 SOBO all the way South to the McFarland TH along the old Sunflower Highway. Since she can easily handle the distance but it's a bit iffy for me, the idea was for me to hike part way with her, go back to the car, drive to the McFarland TH, then hike out to meet her.
During the planning, since we'd been out Cornucopia numerous times (the last just 7 months ago) and I hadn't been NOBO from McFarland in over 4 years, I mentioned dropping her off at FR #25/25A, immediately driving to McFarland TH, maybe dawdling a bit before hiking out to meet her and we'd finish the hike together.
At that point she said she'd rather do a full albeit shorter hike with me... hmmm, does that mean I'm be good company to hike with? I guess so.
Ok, so now the plan is to hike out from Mormon Grove TH to the AZT #22 heading NOBO and eventually head West on Sheep Creek Trail and turn around at Squaw Flat Spring, to which we had last been over 6 years ago.
CHAPTER 2: The drive to Mormon Grove TH
While driving out Forest Road #25 a week ago I said to Tracey "It would be nice is the FS would come out 'sweep' the road to remove the excess amount of rocks"... and guess what? It appears the road was graded after the rain a few days back but before the weekend traffic. So we actually had pretty smooth sailing all the way up to Mormon Grove! Cool!
CHAPTER 3: The hike to Squaw Flat
Arriving at the TH we encountered a group of 4 + a dog who had a full camp set up connected to their Toyota FJ Cruiser. I guess "no camping at the trailhead" doesn't register with them. The moment I stepped out of the 4Runner, with the dog stretched to the end of its leash toward me, a woman somewhat gruffly asked if we had a dog, to which I replied we did not. I guess she wasn't happy they had to leash their dog when we arrived. Whatever, we just beat feet and headed out.
(Thankfully the trailhead was empty when we returned some 5+ hours later.)
Shortly after we were NOBO on AZT #22 I noticed fresh ATC tracks long the trail... yup, even though ATC's in a Wilderness are verboten! It took a little while before I determined it had originally traveled South some distance (I'll get to that later) before heading back North again.
(My determination was based on the dirt/mud thrown from a spinning tire when going up obstacles)
My initial assumption was the possibility of the ATC doing part of the "Easy Mines Loop" from FR #25A out Cornucopia (along which we've noticed ATC tracks on several occasions) onto West Fork Trail #260, SOBO on Thicket Spring Trail #95, Sheep Creek Trail #88 and Saddle Mountain Trail #91 continuing on to end at the McFarland TH along the old Sunflower Highway and returning it came.
(I won't be too far off on the assumption, but that had more to do with my lack-of-imagination than anything)
Ok, ok, we're hiking, not critiquing an ATC rider (more like being somewhat incensed) and it's time to enjoy the beautiful scenery. And that it was! Perfect weather, slightly cool, a calm high 40's to start, 50's throughout with a slight breeze every so often and just cresting 61° back at the TH.
In one sense one may describe the hike as boring due to encountering (or even seeing) absolutely no wildlife but for a bird or two, but the reasonably wide tread vacillated from smooth-and-flat, to steep-and-rocky along with everything in between. All along we continued following the ATC tracks, which, upon reaching the threw us for a surprise... the ATC continued West on/along/thereabouts the Sheep Creek Trail. I said 'thereabouts' due to some spots where the ATC was unable to drive or be manhandled up and over downed trees or other such obstacles, it created its own detours and continued on. In reality, if the ATC had NOT traveled out-and-back along Sheep Creek a day or so earlier, we very likely would have lost the trail a few times, which was not an issue back in 2017.
Upon reaching Squaw Flat we stopped for the obligatory photo of the "John Hughes" concrete water tank before heading back to take our lunch break back at the Sheep Creek Trail/Thicket Spring Trail/AZT #22 junction. Since we went no farther West, my assumption vis-a-vis the ATC was that it had come up from the Verde River along maybe the Copper Camp Trail to Sheep Creek Trail and some distance (all the way/?) out the Saddle Mountain Trail.
CHAPTER 4: Return trip
After a very peaceful lunch we took a quick look into the mine along with a short jaunt out-and-back along Thicket Spring Trail #95 before heading back SOBO at a leisurely pace, at least on the uphills, so my max HR only exceeded 130's once, staying mostly in the 120's. During the majority of the flat parts the HR was mid-80's to 90's, with a few dips in the mid-70's... must have been when I was spaced out allowing my feet to beat like a metronome.
It was only when we reached the junction to turn back to Mormon Grove Trailhead that I realized the ATC tracks continued farther SOBO, so... I have a distinct feeling the ATC went a lot farther South, possibly to McFarland TH (or more likely Forest Road #393?) and back... all the way West to the Verde?? And of course, probably 95% of that is in the Mazatzal Wilderness.
All I can say to that is what Tracey saw on a black T-shirt for sale...
"People: F*ing Nightmare, would not recommend" along with a ONE-star rating.
(NOTE: the asterisk was NOT present, the full word was)
And that's it for our pre-Thanksgiving hike. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
