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| Parker - Rim - Moody Loop, AZ | |
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| | Parker - Rim - Moody Loop, AZ | | | |
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Parker - Rim - Moody Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 14.20 Miles |
3,519 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.20 Miles | 9 Hrs 4 Mns | | 1.84 mph |
| 3,519 ft AEG | 1 Hour 20 Mns Break | | | |
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| Partners |
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[ show ]
| partners | | I suggested a figure eight loop we've tackled many times in the Ancha. Bruce wasn't keen on the undesirable 0.2-mi segment on that one and sought another option. At first, I was dumbfounded he was suggesting a loop I've come to associate with notable pain. Simply something New / Different holds a strong second for myself so before he came to his senses I agreed.
Parker Creek Trail #160
Parker TH is at 5k. 1 mi up, temp/humidity was a 7 out of 10 on ugh. The only catclaw is in the lower half mile, easily avoidable for a fit/alert boy scout... I nailed every limb on the return. While you could squeak by in shorts, there is a good stretch of pain-free push-aside vegetation. Poison ivy is an eye-opener, if this is the only trail you hike. 2 downed trees were easy to step over, and a third wasn't much tougher. I lucked out not stepping on a coiled-up rattler, that caught my eye midstep.
Rim Trail #139 - Sierra Ancha
The trail of concern and curiosity arrived. We took a break at the campsite soon after the trail began. There is one bad tenth of a mile overgrown en route to the two nice edge views with towering pines behind.
Juiced up on life-is-good keeps the vibes positive until Armor Corral Spring. It doesn't look bad on satellite and if you follow the Official Route you miss the worst. Continuing, you shake off that blip, enjoy 4G, and ponder what exactly is the trail at times. Cairns reappear, hope is rejuvenated, and if you follow the dashed topo line it might work. We repeated a past mistake, cursed at ourselves for doing so, and carefully moved over the densest blood-sucking vegetation. It is so fn-dense that the ground below is unknown for mini stretches.
Bruce noticed on RS that Moody was nearby above us. Based on the vegetation my initial thought was hell no until I checked the distance back to #139. It wasn't looking good until I took a chance on an offshoot clearing, adrenaline kicked in and we were on Moody soon after.
Moody Point Trail #140
Joy was short-lived. Vegetation was either push-aside the locust or wading 6-8 foot flopped over ferns that hid ground/trail clues. Thick poison ivy for several stretches. After a smidgen up the mile we needed to tackle, we had lunch in a semi-shady area serenaded by a chipper warbler vireo. After playing the role of the bushwhacker nearly all day, Bruce took a stab.
Parker Lewis Can't Lose
The full stretch down Parker offered the best light wind but I was tapped out. A rattler jumped across the trail in front of me going up-slope. It appeared to be tossed sideways, found a nook, and rattled back. A minute later a 5 to 6 ft long slender racer? yellow-stripe darted across and down-slope. Had a bear run by a minute later, it would have seemed par for the course.
Synopsis
It was a great hike |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Large bush flowers opened up late afternoon on Parker. |
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