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| Hiking | 6.79 Miles |
935 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.79 Miles | 2 Hrs 10 Mns | | 3.13 mph |
| 935 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | The final segment is 12¼ miles and over 2,200 AEG. Because I tend to wander, and backtrack, my stats would be even greater. So, I decided to split the final segment in two.
I didn’t want my shuttle-driving wife to make the drive in before I had a chance to scout FR 1058 on foot.
From gated (at 7:30 a.m.) Cave Creek Ranger Station, head east to the powerlines. Turn north. I thought the powerline road continued north, but instead the trail is doubletrack, rolling up & down, side-to-side, crossing many small washes, to the 2-mile mark.
I had brought two batteries, but the first one was only charged to 27%. Between two batteries, I figured my GoPro had power for maybe two hours, so I was hauling donkey. From the powerline, the trail descends 380 ft. in a mile to Camp Creek. I jogged a good chunk of that, trying to beat my lack of battery power. 
The trail makes a steep little climb out of Camp Creek, before the grade becomes more moderate.
At 4¼ miles, there is a trail split: follow the signs left, switchbacking down 100 ft. to cross a fairly large wash.
From the wash, the trail switchbacks up to FR 1058. Though I was done with the segment, I was only two-thirds done with my hike: I still had almost two miles to hike on FR 1058 to the ruins. It’s a good thing I did: [ photo ] . That's not a road I would be comfortable with my wife driving.
Nor would it be legal: I called the TNF to ask about FR 1058’s status where it crosses the ranch. They confirmed the bit within the ranch’s boundaries is in fact private property. I’ve done the whole Maricopa Trail counter-clockwise, but this segment may be one I should have done the opposite, from Bronco Trailhead to Cave Creek Ranger Station. 
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v4pf8ei-maricopa-tra ... -1058.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/934504737 |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Besides the above photos, I saw some very nice patches of plains blackfoot, red & yellow pea scattered along much of the trail, threadleaf groundsel, silverpuff, fiddleneck, and of course stinknet. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
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