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| Hiking | 9.03 Miles |
1,267 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.03 Miles | 3 Hrs 31 Mns | | 2.57 mph |
| 1,267 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Early morning out at Skyline. Don’t want to jinx it, but I really like the fact that this park doesn’t lock the gate. (I said the same thing about the Estrella Preserve and 6 months later the gates were in use  ). Got to the trailhead around 4:45 and there were already 7 cars there  . Getting a little dark to be hiking without a headlamp. I can see the trail, I just can’t see what is ON the trail. I started my hike by doing my daily reflections so my phone provided some light, but not a lot. Around 5:15 the sky was lighting up enough for decent hiking.
I took the Lost Creek up and over the saddle. The plan was to hike out to the Verrado TH using some use trails and then hike back on the flatter section of Lost Creek Trail/(road). There are 6 use trails and/or roads that take off from the Lost Creek Trail. I took the third, a single use path that took off to the north. There were a few splits in the trail and I tried to stay true to the trail that seemed to head most directly to the Verrado TH. Quite a few use trails in the area. A lot of opportunities to get “lost” and have fun in the desert. I did pretty well in choosing my trails, but I was stymied from reaching the Verrado TH by a new phase in Verrado construction. Looks like that whole area is off for the foreseeable future. Made my over to the Lost Creek Trail and followed as far east as I could to verify that it was closed as well. It was closed, no detours. Hiked back along Lost Creek and then took the first use trail (closest to Skyline Park) and followed that south. I followed some use trails and roads south. Ended up connecting to the Javelina Trail. Briefly followed the Tortuga Trail before following a road and then swinging back north to connect to the Quartz Mine Trail. Took the Quartz back to the TH.
The Lost Creek Trail is unexciting, but there is decent elevation and I enjoy playing on the use trails. I’ll be curious to see what happens to the Verrado TH……I wonder if their golf course is still open? Great weather for an early morning hike. Not many clouds out there today, but they seemed to be placed perfectly for my hike. Encountered 7 hikers and 1 runner. 7 of them in the first 20 minutes, all with headlamps. Wildlife minimal…a few chipmunks, rabbits and quail. |
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Route Editor
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