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| Hiking | 9.34 Miles |
3,341 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.34 Miles | 9 Hrs 21 Mns | | 1.18 mph |
| 3,341 ft AEG | 1 Hour 27 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | I started out wanting to hit Robbers Roost, but Jason mentioned going up to Three Sisters instead. That then morphed into going to 5057.
We arrived at the Carney Trailhead a little past 7am and there was already 10-15 vehicles already parked. It was a little chilly and I had to deploy another layer before heading out.
It’s been a while since I have been up Carney and I knew it would kick my butt. I was also prepared for the beating the Ridgeline Trail would give me going up to the Sisters as well.
It was a slow slog up to the Carney saddle, but we survived! The up and down of the trail going to the Boulder Saddle was nice. It looks like there are a couple of paths along this now. Once you get to the last little ridge, the trail gets unclear as it has been every time I’ve been up there. Looking across to the trail along the base of the Sisters, we could see the extreme fire damage done from the Siphon Fire.
The trail is clear from the saddle all the way up to the peak because just about everything was roasted. Some sections of this trail were moonscape. The last time I was up here in back in 2021, the effects of the Superstition Fire were still evident, but the grass had reclaimed the hillsides. I remember it being waist high along much of the path. That’s what fueled this latest fire. The new “normal” for this area now, I guess. It doesn’t take much for a fire to run right across the entire hillside because of the grass. There were still some sections that were spared, but this area has definitely been transformed into grassland now.
We took the bypass trail up to the Sisters saddle. This area was roasted as well. We took in the usual views. I ventured out as far as I dared to each spot and took my obligatory photos of the amazing views.
After taking a little break, we started up towards the 5057 summit. The trail was roasted all the way. In some spots, the trail is very precarious and is just a narrow strip along the slope with no vegetation to be seen. A good rainfall would wipe out big sections of this part of the Ridgeline Trail as there is nothing holding it to the hillside.
We made it to the base and turned off to make the final climb up. That’s a fun part as well with the climbing and rock sections. I always forget how getting to the actual summit is a little crazy. I made it up and got my views/photos.
It got a little busy while I was hiking down, 4 other groups passed me up going up.
We took a lunch break amongst the spires below the summit and enjoyed the nice weather.
The hike down was not as bad as we expected. The loose, rocky, steep and exposed trail is easier when gravity is your friend.
We made it down without too many issues, but we both were feeling it at the end. This hike extracts a price for sure. Carney is steep, the Ridgeline between the saddle and the Three Sisters has some crazy steep sections and the last mile up from there is not flat either. Then, you get to turn around and go back down all of that. We finish off this one at a slowpoke pace, but we survived to hike another day. I am happy I can still do these tougher ones and it will be a sad when can no longer do them. A great day in the Supes for sure. |
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"Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul."
instagram: @andydilling |
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