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| Hiking | 7.90 Miles |
1,765 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.90 Miles | 4 Hrs 15 Mns | | 1.98 mph |
| 1,765 ft AEG | 15 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | A simple out-and-back from McFarland to the LSM/SM intersection.
Perfect weather for the hike... mid-50's to start topping out at 70.
A tiny trickle of water close to the trailhead, followed by pools of water every so often for the first mile or so. Met/passed no hikers while Northbound.
We stopped for a 15 minute lunch break about .5 mile Southbound at a drainage featuring multi-colored boulders to sit on. I thought of taking a photo or two of the boulders while sitting there but it was 1/2 mile later before I realized I forgot... Nope, not going back.
On the return leg I cast a glance in the direction of Lion Mountain, something on my to-do for over a dozen years, but for whatever reason it never made the do it now! list so it's likely not gonna happen. (I've perused enough triplogs/photosets it's almost like I've been there)
Met NOBO through hikers: A solo guy, a couple, another solo guy, two old farts, another older couple. The first guy was quite chill, the couple was almost chill, the second guy was NOT in a good mood, the old farts were enjoying it (after taking the weekend off in Phoenix and getting a ride to the LSM TH.) and the last couple was easy come easy go.
Between the old farts and the last couple we encountered 4 equestrians with 6 horses. They appeared to have stopped when they saw us coming at a spot we could easily pass the first 2 horses, but that was it. As we got to past the first two horses, we expected them to start moving again to get past us. But they just sat there, unmoving and saying nothing, so I started walking through a small gap in the holly until I would need to push through a dead/hanging branch of holly. I stopped, waiting for them to move but still nothing. So, I pushed through the holly and the horse started freak out bucking like crazy, but at least the gal was able to hang on. She said it was probably because of the mask on my face (my balaclava) but I've got news for her, I wasn't even looking in her direction so the horse could not see me. I'm almost positive the reason was because it sounded just like a rattlesnake when I pushed the branch away. And none of this drama would have transpired if the equestrians had simple ridden past us at the wide spot.
Whatever, we experienced no more drama for the rest of the hike... I'm pretty sure my mind wandered and my legs were in robot mode as I don't recall much over the last mile or so. But no matter, it was another great-to-be-outdoors day.
Surprisingly the Sunday noon traffic on Bush Highway was pretty chill this time. |
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Route Editor
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