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| | Mazzie Mines & Swingset, AZ | | | |
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Mazzie Mines & Swingset, AZ
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| Hiking | 9.90 Miles |
1,925 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.90 Miles | 5 Hrs 34 Mns | | 1.78 mph |
| 1,925 ft AEG | | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | As Chris mentioned in his triplog, our one-and-only previous hike together was some 18 years ago... which got me to musing about just how much my preferred hiking gear (from head-to-toe) has evolved since then.
After giving it a bit more thought (can be dangerous at my age) it appears the evolution has come about due to more than just trial-and-error...
- New gear designs (particularly packs)
- New clothing materials (lightweight, free-flowing, etc.)
- Change in the gear used depending on the type/conditions of a hike
- Change due to physical deterioration from accumulation of injuries and aging
- Constant replacement of items as they wear out, unfortunately the most-liked items have been discontinued... and the search for an adequate replacement falls back on the trial-and-error method.
I'm quite satisfied with my current hiking gear so no complaints.
(Other than the discontinued items rant of course, but I have stocked up on some items to deal with that issue.)
Enough reminiscing... let's get to the hike, which will be the longest (time & distance) hike of 2025 for me.
Like our previous hike in 2007, Chris did a pretty thorough job of documenting the trip so I have little to add.
Decent conditions for the hike... from 63° to 93° with a breeze off-and-on so even with abundant sunshine I felt cool enough.
Heading down to the end of FR 1701 was easy enough, stopping at a small mine/cave along the way. Back in 2013 this one was partially closed with wood planks, but as in DarthStiller's third photo only part of one plank is in evidence.
[ photo ]
If one were to wander for a day or more, I'm sure there are numerous items of interest yet to be found, but if that were to be the agenda, I would return dressed more appropriately for Manzanita-whacking, along with a shears to aid in passage through such brush.
Whatever, finding practically nothing but an eroded bank where the purported Pine Mountain Mine was, we turned our attention to the opening in the cliff farther back up and East of FR 1701, which was the mine I first visited on 2013. Back then it had thick metal angle-iron cross-pieces preventing access, but today it was obvious that sometime in the last 12 years someone had cut through one to allow access. (I included old pics in my photoset)
Although a bit tight, I saw no point in going in as it appeared like a clean-as-a-whistle colonoscopy... nothing to see here folks.
From there we had the climb back up FR 1701 to FR 201 and back to the 4Runner at FR 191. I stopped just long enough to grab my brushing shears, should there be a need to trim any brush on the way up from FR 191 to the Mazzie Swingset. Every trip Tracey and I have taken to the swingset has included some Manzanita removal from the path. Being only two years since our last 'clean-up' of sorts, I only clipped a few. However, if I had brought my reciprocating saw, I would have removed THE major offender, a thick Manzanita stump immediately past the rusted 'gate' and somewhat obscured below a branch which a hiker is usually focused on to avoid. Having avoided it numerous times in the past, it didn't come to mind as something to warn Chris about. And so, you guessed it, Chris managed to stumble on it... only stumble mind you, NOT fall. Crisis averted.
[Note to self, bring at least a hand-saw next time.]
From there is was a steady ascent to the 'saddle' at the high-point of FR 191 and the gradual descent back to FR 201. While 'gradual' there are numerous rocky areas to pay attention to your footing.
Shortly after returning to the 4Runner two mountain-bikers came riding out FR 191 to FR 201. They appeared somewhat worse-for-wear and asked if we had water to spare, which we did. I offered still-cold water from my CamelBack while Chris topped that with a cool 16 oz bottle of Gatorade for each, which was much appreciated.
(I drink a homemade electrolyte mix out of half-frozen bottles, saving the CamelBak for spritzing on my sleeves and balaclava for cooling, or as in this case, minor emergencies.)
BTW, the mountain-bikers were riding high-end E-bikes, likely the only way their route would have been even halfway reasonable:
From Deer Creek TH, along AZ 87 Highway to FR 177 to FR 191 to FR 201 to Gold Ridge Trail #47 and back down to Deer Creek is one heck of a long haul, at something over 19 miles & 6100' AEG.
As sparse as my photoset is from this trip, I'm including a few photos from the oast for comparison. |
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