| |
|
| | |
|
| Backpack | 38.84 Miles |
9,491 AEG |
| | Backpack | 38.84 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 9,491 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | Spent another long weekend in the islands, which is always a nice option. Mixed it up a little bit from last time to cover some new ground for me.
Saturday
Turkey Creek TH to Manning Camp
8.23mi - 3,901aeg - 4:54
We got started around 8 to mild temperatures and some welcome cloud cover to help temper the morning heat before gaining some welcome elevation. Arriving at Mudhole Spring revealed our first glimpse of things to come all weekend. It wasn't exactly dry, but drawing anything consumable would have been quite a chore. We did some maintenance work with hopes that it would make it a better option for the next visitors here.
The stretch of trail between Mudhole and Deerhead (which I think has long-since ceased being even a seasonal source for water) is impressively steep, and it sort of broke me. Eventually, I regained my step and headed over to Spud Rock Campground. The marked spring there is dry as a bone, but the spring box did have a foul puddle at the bottom. I don't think I'd have figured out how to draw consumable water from this one.
Climbed the Switchback trail to the ridge and the final climb from there to the Fire Loop junction before rolling down into a deserted Manning Camp. Unease began to settle in as the reliable spring that NPS reports has only dried out twice in recorded history was a dust bowl  . This would make a quick end to any attempt to spend a weekend backpacking here. After dropping packs and doing some investigating, we discovered that there was about 20 gallons of water in the NPS-use-only rainwater collection barrel which eased the potentially very bad situation we found ourselves in. While there was no water in the spring and the pond was empty, there was still a pool of unappealing water in the bedrock below camp. After cutting through the oily surface film and treating a liter, we learned that this pool would suffice.
In later thoughts, I don't know if NPS reports of the spring drying out only 2 times historically also required the skunky bedrock pool to dry out too? If so, this doesn't qualify since there's still water available. If not, this would be time number 3 that the spring is not producing any water. Presumably it will take monsoon rains before this changes.
Reef Mica Head Loop
5.16mi - 1035aeg - 2:05
This was a first Rincon trip for 10s so after setting up camp, I tour-guided an afternoon jaunt across the top of the mountain, hitting a couple of the east slope viewspots. The dozens of miles of trails and cool rock formations at elevations in the 8k range are what make this such an enjoyable destination.
After a couple of hours exploring we headed back to camp. With water issues alleviated, we all settled in for the evening. Some periodic island breezes died down as the night went on and delightful late-May temps settled into the upper 30s overnight.
Sunday
Cowhead Grass Shack AZT Loop
11.51mi - 3014aeg - 5:03
I had never done any of the west side trails here on the east side of No Saguaros National Park, so I proposed the HAZ-reported 10.7 mile loop that dropped down to Grass Shack via the AZT and the parallel Cow Head Saddle Trail. On my suggestion we went ccw down via Cow Head, opting to make the return climb on the AZT, assuming it would be very nice tread and ample shade. I was wrong. Oh sure, the tread is nice, and the grade was great, but despite the forest being nicely wooded, the trail has been so well maintained that there is no shade to be found as the 20-foot wide trail cut takes care of that possibility!
Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable loop and I was glad to knock off another few miles in my quest to never complete any segment of the AZT. Cow Head was a very nice trail to descend to Cow Head Saddle. We cut down to the AZT via the Douglas Spring Trail, which was my least favorite mile of the loop. The low point on the day was 5300 feet at Grass Shack where we took a break in the shade. As with the other typical water sources, there was a small pool of unappealing water here. This one would have worked in a pinch, but we were happy not to have to rely on it.
We all made the ascent at our own various paces, finally reaching the more pleasant pondo shade of the upper mountain at around the 7kft contour shortly after the noon hour with the temp having topped out at 81 about halfway up. We all spent a couple hours recovering in the 71-degree mountaintop shade and breezes at Manning Camp.
Mica Spud Loop
4.85mi - 966aeg - 2:23
Karl and John and I decided to hit a couple of the highlights we hadn't gone to yesterday, with a visit to the technical highpoint of the range, which features the views and excitement of any county highpoint in a corn-growing state. Thankfully, a short distance away stands Spud Rock, and while a few feet lower, it offers the money shot views that should not be missed for any visitor to this mountain.
Back at camp we were joined by a trio of hikers who had come up from Douglas Spring earlier in the day, and one solo hiker who had come up via Turkey Creek. Two additional hikers stopped by on a 14-mile round trip from Happy Valley just to get water! Those 6 were the only other humans we saw all weekend save for a pair down near the trailhead as we finished up.
Monday
Manning Camp to Turkey Creek TH
9.17mi - 573aeg - 3:38
Another morning that started in the 30s but moderated quickly. We hit the trail at 8, taking the southern Tibberroute via the Bathtub Spring Trail across to Heartbreak Ridge. This time we opted for the East Slope Trail which was very enjoyable as it descends to Spud Rock Campground. From here it was a repeat of the ascent two days prior on the Turkey Creek Trail. You definitely notice the grade in the mile above Mudhole Spring and it was nice to take a breather there before bombing down the bottom half back enjoying a nice post-hike snack under the shaded canopy of Sycamores in (the very dry) lower Turkey Creek.
Recap
Incredibly dry out there. Lots of turkey and deer wandering through Manning Camp, probably because it's the only place for miles that has any water at all. Great views and enjoyable hiking on these great NPS trails as always. Good to hike with 19Ls, Karl, and Kathy. Thanks for the company and conversation. Tacos at BKs are as good as always but it's a $20 proposition for lunch now. Alas, the days of $2 tacos are a distant memory. |
  |
Grass Shack Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Not dripping. No flow. Just a small skunky, hot, algae-filled puddle in the sandy drainage. |
|
Manning Camp Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Spring is dry. The normally fenced in "pond" is dust. There is a pool of water in the bedrock where campers are supposed to draw water from. It's not flowing nor particularly appealing. But it works. It is conceivable that this pool does not last to when monsoon rain arrives. |
|
Mud Hole Spring - Mica |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | A couple of gallons of filterable water in the pool. Barely a trickle otherwise. |
|
Spud Rock Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Signed spring is dry as a bone. Concrete spring box had a few inches of nasty water about 2 feet below the surface. Would be hard pressed to draw water from it. | | _____________________
| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
