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| Backpack | 37.97 Miles |
5,500 AEG |
| | Backpack | 37.97 Miles | 38 Hrs 46 Mns | | 1.95 mph |
| 5,500 ft AEG | | 32 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Three day trip. The Plan was Picketpost south along the GET #3/AZT #17 to where the GET goes east, where I would replenish water. Then east on the GET to White Canyon (water), south to Walnut Canyon (water), pick up AZT #16, then west (water at the end of the Gila), then north, back to Picketpost.
Didn't go according to Plan A, B, or C. Ended up finishing #16 to Kelvin instead.
The important stuff:
- Confirmed observationally that it is allowable to leave your vehicle overnights at the Picketpost TH. (There were quite a few cars when I arrived at 6 am, which clearly had been there overnight. And my vehicle was undisturbed the three nights it was there.) It's just camping at the TH proper that the Rangers don't want. (I saw a note on a picnic table warning someone to this effect.)
- There was more water, in pools, along #17 this time (as opposed to last month), on account of rain before. But I wouldn't count on it now. And except for a few spots, not easily accessible.
- Met a nobo mountain biker who had come up from the Gila the day before. He said he had tried the GET once, but that it was too thorny for a bike. Met his friend about an hour later backpacking nobo also from the Gila.
- According to a week old AZT Water Report, there was "Flowing clear water!" as at the point where the GET #3 tee's east. I hadn't seen the stock tank last month, but knowing about it now, I found it. Algae and mud. Yuck. Didn't see any flowing water. So Plan B, to go to White Canyon via the #16 later.
- If you're coming to the Water Collector from the south, do NOT take the road to the WC. The road is terribly slippery/steep/dangerous. Instead, continue on the trail nobo and come to the WC from the north side. Same comment going south. I thought I would save time taking the road down and that it wouldn't be as dangerous. But ditto above about the road and I had to go so slow that it would have been faster (and much safer) to take the trail down from the north side.
- The north half of AZT #16 is absolutely gorgeous. But no water on #16 from the Water Collector to the Gila.
- I think I saw a mountain lion. On a mountain. At night. And the lion saw me.
("Now why would anyone put reflectors up here?" Then they blinked. Yikes! A five hour standoff.)
- One fresh bear print in mud in a corral south of the mountain lion the next day.
- No signage (that I saw) at the Gila showing you the direction for Water Access. The path shown on MapDex is impassable. Take the road south. You won't hear flowing water until the last 20 feet. (If you go thru the AZT Gate and pass the "Low Point" sign, you've gone too far.)
- Water at the Gila was about knee high (I saw a mountain biker cross it). Flowing well and clear. (See photo.) No smell. Tasted fine.
- The #16 eastbound after that has a lot of road walk. And the signage isn't as good/missing. I missed a turn, passed thru what I thought was an AZT Gate, and wasted a half hour.
- In other places there are some game trails branching off/crossing #16. Lack of signage/cairns made it difficult to know which way to go. (GPS is your friend.)
- One rattlesnake rattling angrily at me - at dusk - hidden under bushes on trail as I was putting my headlamp on. Am thankful for trekking poles and gaiters.
- A large tree fall on the way to Walnut Canyon. You can get around it, but it's a balancing act. (I reported it to the Steward.)
- One HUGE bull/steer (8 feet tall?) on a narrow part of the trail, bounded by rock on one side, cliff on the other. Fortunately, he was going in my direction and after I asked him, he moved ahead 100 yards where he was able to climb up the trail to safe ground. Don't know what I would have done if he was going the other way. (No way for him to turn.)
- You can't see cattle at night. (But you can hear them trample away.)
- There is a trailhead of sorts at Walnut Canyon south of the Gate. The road to the Gila is a sandy beach-like stream bed. There was a nice place to camp, albeit under a widow-maker. I didn't have a problem with condensation, despite camping on the river bank.
- I don't know why it's called Walnut Canyon. I didn't feel like I was in a canyon.
- Now I know where the term "babbling brook" comes from. The Gila was talking all night, but I couldn't make out what it was saying.
- I had hoped to take the road from Walnut Canyon (which I believe is the east loop of Battle Axe Road) to White Canyon. But it was sandy. Like walking on a beach. Much more effort to walk. So much for Plan B. Keep going east to try White Canyon at the other Battle Axe Road later.
- When I arrived at the east part of Battle Axe Road (which the nobo-centric RS says is the way to White Canyon), the road wasn't as beachy. But since I wasn't sure about water at White Canyon (news below), I opted to continue to "civilization" at the end of #16.
- There was a sign saying "Water Access" either here or slightly east of here. (I can't remember.) I didn't try it. (But in retrospect, I should have.)
- While I could occasionally see the Gila from the trail, this would be the last place that I could find water until the end of #16.
- I "met" a guy (30-something) rushing nobo on a Thru-hike. He didn't want to stop to talk.
- Whereas a few hours later, I met a 50-something, also doing a Thru-Hike. We chatted for a few minutes and shared data.
- This part of the #16 has very "slippery" slopes. I local from Kearny, who does S&R, told me that he has rescued a few hikers here who have fallen and broken bones.
- You pass under some High Voltage lines. Wind makes an eerie howl in the wires. ("Wichita Lineman"?) Arcing. I expect a failure of that branch someday soon. (I don't know whom to call to report it.)
- There were a few campsites along #16, some which I documented on RS. (See bottom.) One was a large meadow, very idyllic looking, near a Railroad Trestle. Peaceful - until a train came by. (Someone had taken the time and effort to pack spray paint to the trestle and "tag" the trestle.)
- It looked like there should have been water near this meadow and many trails leading to where water should have been. But I couldn't find water.
- Once you arrive at the "end" of #16 (a trailhead parking lot and a Gate), the "Connector" is a gravel road (no longer public land). It's another half mile to the ADOT Maintenance Lot, where there is a spigot on the east side of the building with potable water. (Along Rt 177.)
- But if you're desperate, you will see part of the Gila Mineral Creek a bit before where you can filter water.
- The local who I mentioned before told me that "The Mine" owns the Artesian well" at White Canyon and that The Mine doesn't mine (no pun intended) backpackers obtaining water from it.
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I presume that the GPS data from my "Notes" on RS below are available on my (merged) Route.
6.46 miles - 11:28 am
Water here and more south along the drainage.
7.30 miles - 12:09 pm
Water
3.13 miles - 9:56 am
A campsite
3.63 miles - 10:14 am
Campsite
5.94 miles - 11:28 am
Campsite
7.65 miles - 12:12 pm
Nice campsite
8.78 miles - 12:52 pm
Campsite
9.78 miles - 1:21 pm
Campsite next to FR |
| _____________________
| Be careful. It really is "a jungle out there." |
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