DESTINATION Cave Creek Trail #4 61 Photosets
2009-03-06 | | -
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| Hiking | 24.80 Miles |
3,500 AEG |
| | Hiking | 24.80 Miles | 9 Hrs 26 Mns | | 2.63 mph |
| 3,500 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I had planned on going snowshoeing and then skiing in the afternoon today. But I had to drive my daughter to school and decided I'd take advantage of the cool weather here. Every time I hike, I have a few goals in mind.
The goals for today are as follows:
1) hike 25 miles with less than a 1/2 hour of breaktime
2) find and capture the elusive crested saguaro
3) find the answer to a question asked of me
4) get a picture of Teva Joe
I was able to achieve two of my goals and came close to accomplishing my main goal.
My journey started at about 8am which is a late start time for me. The weather forecast called for a high of 65 degrees. The perfect senerio for my trip. The first 2.25 miles were the same as my recent trips to Skull Mesa. But this time at the sign I decided to head up trail #4 in search of the saguaro. Rumor had it, I could capture more than one on this trail. I hiked about a mile and opened the gate and it quickly broke apart. I spent a couple minutes jerry-rigging it and was able to close it. Trail #4 was easy going. At about 5 miles, I entered prickley pear alley. At about 6 miles, there is a sign reading Trail 246 in two miles. I wondered what it was like living here when I reached the old foundation and corral at about 7 miles. A little past here is where I filled and pilled my water. Anticipation was starting to build at the 9 mile mark. If my intel was correct it would be less than a 1/2 mile to reach goal 2. I captured the saguaro (photo 10) at about 9.6 miles, and then another about a mile later. A 1/2 mile later, I stopped dead in my tracks something was coming torwards me. At the Ashdale Admin, I was confronted by a couple of Michiginers. They asked me what was down the trail. I showed them my capture. At this point, I was nearing the halfway point and was feeling hunger pangs/pains. Still no sign of Teva Joe. I heard a sound that reminded me of the old "Indian yell". I heard it twice but never got a glimse.
A little past Ashdale Admin, I hit the Cottonwood trail. I know Joe had been thru here when I reached this point. He too had hunger pains (photo 11) and an insatiable thirst(photo 12). At 20 miles, I gave up on goal 4. I made a call and was told there was a sighting far, far away. The last 5 miles were on a familiar trail, and I switched on autopilot. All in all, it was a successfull outing. I traveled 24.8 miles in 9 hours and 26 minutes. My breaks totaled 38 mintues. It was a long slog(photo 13). |
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