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| FR 554 Black Mtn Ruin Loop, AZ | | -
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| | FR 554 Black Mtn Ruin Loop, AZ | | | |
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FR 554 Black Mtn Ruin Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 5.50 Miles |
1,286 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.50 Miles | 3 Hrs 18 Mns | | 1.85 mph |
| 1,286 ft AEG | 20 Mns Break | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Looking for something a bit cooler sans hours of driving...
Ok, so we'll get up earlier and settle for something closer with maybe 4,000' elevation for slightly cooler temps.
Scanning through the archives I found a loop just East of Rye and within 60 miles of home that we had done just over 6 years ago. Although it was a bit short and began at around 3500 feet, at one point the elevation will hit 4001... at least it did last trip.
What sealed the deal for this hike, adjacent to the loop was Black Mountain, the site of a Native American Ruin which we had visited a full 12 years ago, so it was time for another visit.
Driving East on Gisela Road we missed the Forest Road 554K turn due to a number of factors:
- Almost completely camouflaged
- Barely wide enough between heavy vegetation for a vehicle
- Angled so as not to be easily noticed while Eastbound
- No sign denoting it as a Forest Road.
The last item is due very likely to the fact that what used to be Forest Road 554K disappears completely within a quarter mile. (which was already the case 12 years ago)
Anyway, once turned around it was slightly easier to locate the turn, but tight as it was the 4Runner immediately gained new AZ pinstripes. Knowing how bad the road would get we parked within a hundred yards from the main road.
Yup, barely a quarter-mile and it was time to make the sharp right turn and begin the rugged climb up the non-designated ATV road. It was an instant workout which got the blood flowing and the mouth-breathing going in full force, made harder by the steep slope of loose golf-ball to baseball-sized rocks. We will climb and descend three times within the first 2 miles so we had very little time to catch our breath until rounding the North end of our loop. Being on the humid side, it was pure joy the few times we had a brief wisp of a breeze.
A number of times early on we encountered the odd cattle, some quickly moved off while others were unconcerned with our presence as we passed by. At just under 2 miles we connected to the existing Forest Road 554 on which the tread was somewhat better but for one more climb, during which I followed a parallel cattle trail rather than the road.
At about 2.5 miles, where Forest Road 554 turned off for a descent to the NW, we continued on the Western un-designated ATV trail. This time it wasn't bad because it more-or-less ran along the top of a ridge.
Now, heading directly toward Black Mountain it was nearing decision time... climb to the ruin site or follow the ATV trail back now. The slope up Black Mountain seemed much steeper than I recalled, and not really feeling full of energy (humidity being the likely culprit) I half-heartedly asked Tracey whether we should go for it or not. With no retort of absolutely not it appeared the decision was made to keep going straight ahead, which meant we were going to the ruin site.
As we began the climb I recalled how the first time we here in 2013, we actually drove the Cherokee a few hundred feet farther up than we were now on foot, the reason why our previous trip to the ruin was a total of barely .4 mile. The 'trail' up was well-used enough it was pretty easy to follow, as long as one realized it did not just go straight to the top but rather followed a slight 'S' curve. Oh yeah, the cattle seemed to be the ones who use this 'trail' the most... what the heck are they doing up here? Was there word of moo-th that there might be some great grazing up here?? At the hazard of breaking a leg on the loose sharp boulders?
The ruin site itself didn't bring back any specific memories, so we just wandered a bit, taking a few photos then sitting down for what turned out to be a rare 20-minute brunch. I guess I wasn't the only one feeling sluggish today.
Surprisingly, both of us felt the descent went much easier than expected, which was good, because once back on the ATV trail the last descent would be downright nasty! Another spot where I took a wide detour along cow paths rather than down the rocky 'ankle-breaking' slope. The only time I crossed the track was to take a few photos of the currently-dry Black Mountain Tank.
Back in the wash I took a look Northward for any sign of the long-gone Forest Road 554K, but there was absolutely no trace, not that I expected any since there were none in 2013.
I took one under-the-fence detour from the road down into the lower wash to take photos of the dam below Black Mountain Tank as well as the cliff walls.
Not a long hike by distance or time, but it was a workout no less. My hips were killing me for the first hour or so, and whether it was the Naproxen I took at the start taking the edge off or eventually I just zoned-out the pain, they seemed fine the rest of the way, even the up-and-down to the ruins. (The pain will return during the 'short-easy-flat' hike tomorrow... must be getting old) |
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