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| Hiking | 8.50 Miles |
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| | Hiking | 8.50 Miles | 9 Hrs 20 Mns | | 1.16 mph |
| 2 Hrs Break | 20 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | This was not my first hike to the Black Glass Canyon. I had driven on Forest Road 12 a couple of times to explore the terrain leading to the canyon. Then I hiked a couple of different routes. All of which ended short of reaching the Arch. The closest I came in hiking the southern ascent was when I reached the plateau south of the Arch. I had it in my sights, but time and stamina constraints persuaded me to turn back.
Then last December I decided to try the northern route. At 1:30 P.M. I had reached the "Fat Man Pass". I was hiking solo, so I considered my options. I could try to squeeze through and continue hiking not knowing how much further I had to hike, or I could turn back because of time restraints. I chose the latter. As I recall, it was after 4:20 P.M. when I got back to the trailhead, an hour before sunset.
Fast forward to today, March 9, 2024. I was determined to hike all the way to the Arch, so I began the hike in the dark at 6:00 A. M., using a flashlight to guide my path. By 7:00 A.M. I had reached the Prevention Gap. At 7:45 A.M. I crossed what I call "That Lonesome Valley". Looking back up the other side I noticed a hiking group, which had begun their hike at 7:00 A.M. They caught up with me at 8:24 A.M. It was the Hiking Hikers Hiking Meetup group led by David and Letlet, of which I was a member. They asked if I would like to join them, and I happily consented.
We reached the southern ascent route by 9:00 A.M. but continued hiking north to explore a cave.
By 9:30 A.M. we made the ascent to the plateau connecting with a trail leading down to the Arch. From the trail connection down to the wash and up to the Arch was all new territory to me. My pace was slower than the rest of the group. I was at the Arch before 11:00 A.M., how exhilarating the moment was for me after the many failed attempts over the past several months. My thoughts turned to the time I had seen the Arch from the plateau but had to turn back. Doing the math from this hike it would have added at least two more hours to that hike. I would have gotten back one hour after dark.
We paused for lunch, rested, then took a short hike to an isolexes shaped arch. We hiked down to the wash for the return hike. It was decided that the rest of the group would continue on and allow me to set my own pace, with the stipulation that I would post a message for the time of my return.
I hiked up to and down from the plateau to the Black Glass Canyon Wash. It was 12:30 P.M. I then hiked the final 3 miles back to the trailhead; arriving just after 3:30 P.M.
For me it was a satisfying "bucket list" achievement! |
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