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| Hiking | 7.89 Miles |
932 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.89 Miles | 2 Hrs 49 Mns | | 2.80 mph |
| 932 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Since May, the PNF has completed the White Spar trailhead, including a pit toilet. Being new, it was clean, but holy geez did it stink! 
I started hiking at 9:00 a.m. I left home late, so I made tracks up FR 67. Other than [ photo ] , I saw no other flowers. A chainsaw-wielding fuels crew was doing "mastication" (per a sign). I got a kick out of an animal skull mounted on the front of their OHV. 
I made good time. It helped that I only had a Camelbak, rather than humping my usual pack.
At just under two miles, I turned left (north) onto an unnumbered jeep trail. The trail ended after one-third mile at Trail #396. You could turn left, but I’m a completist, so instead I turned right towards the Goldwater parking, which is a half mile east. Fair number of people around the trailhead. Shouldn’t kids be in school on Wednesday?
There was a map board at the upper Bannon Creek crossing. I had no idea the lakes have a shore-hugging loop trail. I’ll have to check that out some time.
Trail #396 is narrow, very twisty, and slighty off-camber. I found the skid mark in the duff where I crashed my MTB five months ago. But Trail #396 is fine for hiking. A pleasant walk. No flowers though. Not this time of year.
Lower Bannon Creek had no flow, just a stagnant pool. Adjacent to either end of Bannon Creek is where I found the only blooming flowers.
After following Bannon Creek for a bit, Trail #396 climbs to the top of Hill 5935. I caught some sprinkles along the climb, but not enough to cool me off. Really, the weather was ideal. 🌤
The summit of Hill 5935 has nice views of the peaks west of Prescott, but I forgot to take a panorama. I was too focused on the Hotshots memorial. I had forgotten one was here. It’s changed a lot since 2014.
From the memorial, Trail #396 descends 270 ft. in a mile back to White Spar. I felt good. But despite my loop being under eight miles and 1,000 ft. AEG, my quads were sore the next two days. I think I need to do more more hiking, and fewer bike rides during the week.
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v5ij75x-prescott-cir ... lhead.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/1019155266 |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Light
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Very few by moist areas, but essentially none. |
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Upper Goldwater Lake |
51-75% full |
51-75% full |
| | | Low compared to when I was out there 16 months ago: https://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=981502 | | _____________________
| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
