| | -
-
-
-
-
-
| |  |
|
1 |
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
| | |
|
| Backpack | 18.42 Miles |
3,160 AEG |
| | Backpack | 18.42 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 3,160 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Myself, Katie and the three dogs completed a nice overnight backpack into LaBarge Country. We started at the chaotic Peralta trail just before 8:00 a.m. However, it did not take long to get past the masses of people and noise, as after the first mile or so, we only ran into a few pairs of backpackers as we made our way to the nice campsite near Oak Spring.
The Oak Spring site took a bit of a beating from the fire, but it and the surrounding country is slowly recovering and for the most part the site still maintains its previous charm. Katie went to the creek with the three dogs to set up a hammock and dive into a book, while I headed to Music Canyon to find some nostalgia.
The old campsite still exists, but its a bushwhack to get to. In fact, the opening stretches of Music Canyon were quite the scrambling bushwhack. At times, it made more sense to wade through thigh deep pools and maintain the creek bottom vs trying to stay dry. There was however, a little pay off to the rugged canyon, as some there were some nice stretches of slick rock with flowing water and a few scenic cascades along the way. My memory got a little more fuzzy the deeper into the canyon I pushed and I started to wonder if I would be able to locate the nice overhang sites my good friend Jim showed me over a decade ago. In fact, according to my archives the last time I was at the overhang sites was December of 2012. In spite of my fuzzy memory and the travel up canyon being harder than I had remembered, I finally found the site, which was due in part to some well timed deja vu and a little luck.
The overhang sites were actually more impressive than I had remembered. One overhang had a least 6 grinding holes and a manos in it while the other site (main site) contained some very intriguing white dots (pictographs) on the ceiling as well as a rich assortment of flakes and several plainware pottery type sherds. A historical mining prospect and claim were located near the overhangs as well. I spent a considerable time at the overhangs and then made my way back down Music, however, about half-way down I exited the canyon to the west and picked up Peters Trail, which I took back down to Dutchman and our campsite.
It was a great night under the full moon and we got to see it rise and set in the morning. Beautiful overnight temps and great conditions overall. On our hike out, I stopped and visited some familiar faces and then we continued our short hike out, finishing up around 11:30 a.m. |
|
Wildflowers Observation None
We saw six poppies sparsely sprinkled about the hillside on a section of Bluff Springs Trail. |
|
  |
Crystal Spring |
Gallon per minute |
Gallon per minute |
| | | Light flow and pools in the wash where Crystal Spring is marked. | | _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
