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| Hieroglyphic - 5057 - 3 Sisters - Shaka Loop, AZ | |
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| | Hieroglyphic - 5057 - 3 Sisters - Shaka Loop, AZ | | | |
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Hieroglyphic - 5057 - 3 Sisters - Shaka Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 15.25 Miles |
3,889 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.25 Miles | 10 Hrs 41 Mns | | 1.73 mph |
| 3,889 ft AEG | 1 Hour 53 Mns Break | | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Schedules finally aligned to get a hike in with ishamod before the end of the year. I usually try to avoid repeats, but I hadn't been to 5057 in almost four years, so when he voted for this one, I was in. We started just before sunrise from Hieroglyphic Trailhead with a few vehicles arriving just as we pulled up. Two hikers were already heading back as we approached the petroglyphs, so we had that area to ourselves, and there were some small pools but no flowing water.
I'd forgotten how well-defined the route is up Hieroglyphic Canyon--there was practically a trail much of the way and a nice path cut through some of the brushier spots. There was a little water in the bottom of the canyon and a few trickles in places, and the spires and scenery were great on the way up. We were finally in sunshine once we got up on the ridgeline and worked our way over to 5057.
The summit register that was there a few years ago is gone, but I did notice one of the reference marks I hadn't spotted last time, kind of oddly placed on top of a rounded boulder. We got there just in time to have the peak to ourselves for a while and eat at the top, then a group of three was heading up from the Balanced Rock route, and another solo hiker beat them to the top as we were about to start down. As we got back on the ridgeline route, we saw another solo hiker heading up toward 5057. [ youtube video ]
We detoured over to Three Sisters on the way down and enjoyed the views. There must've been 20+ vehicles at the Wave Cave lot, even on a weekday. On the way back to the ridgeline we passed a group of four approaching Three Sisters, then saw two more hikers down near the Boulder Creek origin, where there were some larger pools.
After hiking down Carney Spring and detoured over to Shaka Cave before finishing off the loop. We'd seen quite a few hikers all day--probably 10+ groups or individuals along the loop--but it was relatively quiet around the Wave Cave, and we managed to complete that final stretch without anyone asking us for directions to the cave. That might be the first time I've set foot anywhere near that trail and not been asked at least once...I think we should win a prize. Over the last mile or two, five or six powered paragliders were flying around.
We kept a pretty leisurely pace all day and took a lot of breaks at various spots along the way, so we finished just before sunset, but it was nice getting back up to 5057 after a few years and great catching up with ishmod again and getting one more hike in before the end of the year. |
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