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| Apache Trail Power Lines Lasso, AZ | | -
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| | Apache Trail Power Lines Lasso, AZ | | | |
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Apache Trail Power Lines Lasso, AZ
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| Hiking | 4.60 Miles |
795 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.60 Miles | 2 Hrs 55 Mns | | 1.58 mph |
| 795 ft AEG | | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | The PLAN was a Black Cross Butte/Peak 3042 hike. Things got off to a great start, with NO traffic on Apache Trail, we were early to the TH and there was only one vehicle at the TH.
In all my previous trips I had followed the Crucifix drainage some distance before climbing so this was the first time following the well-beaten route. We hadn't gone 1/8th mile before I realized things were not looking favorable. Lately I'd been dealing with severe cramping of the left calf, which attacked at the most inopportune of times, and in that short a distance I had a twitch from it while stepping up, which made me twist slightly, enough so my left knee gave warning of future issues. By future, I wasn't worrying about the climb, but rather the descent on the return trip, when I would be tired. What tipped the scales was catching sight of the hikers well above us... nope, this ain't happening.
Ok, so what do we do? Drop down and follow the drainage? Nope, without any of my old tracks I didn't want to be trail-blazing. So, back to the car, we're already out this way, what else is there? As we were driving back toward Apache Trail we met some fast-moving vehicles, which appeared to be filled with young hikers... Insta/All-Trails hikers? More than enough we were glad to skip this hike.
What else is there? Well, in December of 2014 we followed the power lines from Apache Trail (just short of FR #213 to Tortilla TH) as far as the maintenance road went, then dropped down and followed drainages on the return. I guess we can do that and see how it goes.
Following the maintenance road out was 100% better than 11+ years ago. Now it was graded wide enough for almost two full lanes and other than a few spots, is was smooth enough for a car. Based on how new the wood power poles were, I was sure they had been replaced not long ago, within a year or two? Whatever, it made for easy going... until the return leg.
Such a short walk, are we going to retrace our steps, or drop into the drainage as see how it goes? As it turned out, we dropped down exactly where we did previously, and followed the feeder into the main drainage, where we turned left. While some parts were wide open with smooth bedrock, most of this part of the hike was one constant challenge of avoiding the myriad of hazards, foremost of which was the thickets of every kind of thorny vegetation (the worst being cat's-claw), and of course a few deep pools of water with steep banks on either side.
Every once in a while I glanced at FS Topo to see which feeder, if any, we would take back out. As it turned out, we missed a turn and continued in the main drainage. While it did, in fact, continue, and may possibly have been an escape, it would be longer. Thankfully we were spared of the extra distance by the massive batch of thick vegetation, which held up a figurative dead-end sign. Ok, so back to the previous feeder.
Although this feeder appeared to be the best way out (the first part was the same as years ago, but I missed the first turn), initially to use this feeder, due to vegetation which wasn't here years ago, we had bit of a sketchy climb out of the main drainage. I wasn't exactly happy about the exposure, but once up top we were able to follow a ridge most of the trip back until reconnecting with the power line road.
Again, a far shorter hike than planned, but at least we were out enjoying the day, and luckily had no further knee or cramping issues. If anything, the most dangerous part was the return drive along Apache Trail. Unlike earlier, by now the Northbound traffic was dangerously out-of-hand! Numerous time vehicles were going so fast they were in my lane while rounding the tight corners, so I was almost always at the edge or just off the pavement to avoid being clipped.
And craziest of the crazy were two groups of two road-bikers on the road!!! Sure, it's their life, but I don't think bike riders should be allowed on that part of Apache Trail.
Anyway, our drive South of Tortilla Flat was a bore... we were behind an old paint-faded Corolla that was just taking their time, anywhere from 5-20 mph. When we got to the marina it appeared they didn't understand how the one-lane bridge worked, so we ended up waiting until no vehicles were even coming around the corner. And later just after crossing the second one-lane bridge the guy behind us had enough and just flew past over the double-yellow. We really weren't in any hurry, so whatever.
However, just past the Canyon Lake overlook, the Corolla slowed to a stop in the middle of the road, where there was no turnout, or anything worthy of viewing. First I flashed the high-beans but got no response, not even you're #1 then laid on the horn, still nothing so with no car approaching, I drove over the double-yellows and left them sitting there... with a motorcycle waiting behind. Just another reason we simply don't care to drive out Apache Trail unless we absolutely have to. |
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