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| Hiking | 13.62 Miles |
2,431 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.62 Miles | 6 Hrs 25 Mns | | 2.34 mph |
| 2,431 ft AEG | 36 Mns Break | 12 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | This area had always been on my radar for a return since we hiked a North Butte and South Butte loop in 2013. Joe pushed this out as an option and I was in.
Price Road was as remembered wash 4 miles of pavement followed by 6 miles of off and on washboard. Turning onto N. Box Canyon Road, the plan was to drive as far a comfortably possible for the Subi without getting hung up rocks or stuck in sand. 4.5 miles in, driving through a narrow single lane box, where turning around/backing up would of difficult, I found a spot to park. Good choice, 100 further up was an area that would have been sketchy without more clearance.
A 7:30 start to our hike and Joe claims he hears kids voices, in the middle of nowhere where we had not seen a single person. (nothing new, he hears voices all the time). Around the corner a family was climbing on the rocks taking photos. (Sorry I doubted your sanity....once more)
4.3miles on Box Canyon and then Martinez Canyon road until we reached the gate the marks the end of motor traffic. We'd only seen the one vehicle with the kids and a pair of motorcycles.
Starting the loop portion I was pleasantly surprised at the riparian area we were hiking through combined with the towering cliffs of Martinez Canyon. We decided on a CCW attack on the loop hitting the crumbling Martinez Cabin section first, followed by the Martinez Mill. I could of spent more time here checking out the many artifacts in and around the Mill. I don't have a clue how, back in the day they were able to get all this heavy. heavy machinery out to the middle of nowhere, on those roads, without the aid of modern vehicles. We briefly checked out the Martinez Mine and another in the vicinity. Without a flashlight, I only went in 50' or so, stomping my feet to alert any potential mine worms.
We continued on and started the climb up to Columbia Mine. This one still and the cart track laid down an intact. With a light, this would have been a fun one to explore more. We bypassed going into the Silver Bell mine, finished our climb and enjoyed the views from the top.
Getting back down on this side of the loop was a bit steeper and more loose-er-er. We had lunch back in the Martinez Cabin area and then finished our hike back to the vehicle. I expected to see more SXS activity, it being a weekend with perfect temps, but was pleasantly surprised at the lack of traffic.
I would go back to this area in a minute if I had a vehicle capable of driving to the gate. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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