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| Yankee - Crooks Canyon Figure 8 Loop, AZ | | -
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| | Yankee - Crooks Canyon Figure 8 Loop, AZ | | | |
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Yankee - Crooks Canyon Figure 8 Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 16.74 Miles |
3,318 AEG |
| | Hiking | 16.74 Miles | 7 Hrs 55 Mns | | 2.49 mph |
| 3,318 ft AEG | 1 Hour 12 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Drive
SR69 + Poland Jct > Poland Rd > Poland Jct Rd > FR261 > Five Corners.
Poland Jct Substation vicinity had a lead car upon arrival and was astonishingly half-paved for the short Substation section off SR69 upon return. The drive up along Big Big Creek and through Breezy Pines is an intriguing community loaded with pine trees galore. As cool as it would be to live here the 10-mile one-way drive to our hike is not desirable more than occasional.
Five Corners 6,898 ft
We started hiking the continuation of FR261 up 0.6mi
Dandrea Trail #285
Pines and views but my favorite part of this trail is the riveting ascent.
Yankee Doodle Trail #284
This was our first hike since the 2022 Crooks Fire. A small stretch of the upper portion has been rerouted 10-20 feet lower. It's possibly the nicest pine hike in the Bradshaws. Unfortunately, it's over quick. Most of the upper 2.25mi of #284 is torched. Much of the trail we hiked was cut back well, a good 8 feet swath. That said, it's primarily a motorcycle trail. Tread is not hiker-friendly with some banked luge-esque runs over a river of ankle-busters. It's better in the lower section when the grade eases. Views are top-notch throughout IMHO, but I love the Bradshaws.
After crossing the potential cache crossover and a little ascent we lucked out with a nice break spot. A Scott's Oriole was singing solo until a Spotted Towhee joined the tree choir.
Bandit Run
2.8mi down #284 we jumped off Longfellow Poet-Ridge onto one of the best use-trails memory serves. This motorcycle trail drops to Crooks Canyon. A sliver is private property and you need to duck under two limbs now instead of one as noted in 2021.
FR82
Once down in the canyon, we hopped on FR82 and walked 1.6mi up. I like the pine tree-lined canyon and easy tread. Bruce campaigned for lunch but none of the shade options looked comfy.
Palace Station / Senator Hwy
The 1874 stage station and stage stop was undergoing renovations. The social brucefly got in for a few snapshots, while I enjoyed nearby shade that morphed into our lunch break. If you are hankering to get off joyride high-use trails and hikearizona for a change, Doc Holiday stopped at the station then Tip Top en route to Tombstone.
We both remembered Senator Hwy back up to fig-8 jct as warm-n-steep. It didn't seem too bad heading up, then transitioned to a good ol' fashion whiner in the final 2 furlongs.
Gobbler's Revenge
The road walk up along mostly dry Turkey Creek drags, we enjoyed a couple of mini-breaks. It was nice to pass a few memories. Dandrea Ranch looks to have switched over from the typical high-yield winter wheat to a bumper crop of foxtails. The blackberry canes have seen better days.
Synopsis
Cell coverage along much of #285 to our turn-off is better than pockets of the fifth largest US city. Few would enjoy the hike. I like it and am grateful to get back in the area. Rekindled the desire to rehike a few oldies and check out nearby areas of interest. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Light as most would interpret on the notable varieties. Tiny white fleabane was extreme. |
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Spence Spring |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | Vicinity appeared dry, we did not inspect it close up. | | _____________________
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