| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 8.68 Miles |
2,492 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.68 Miles | 6 Hrs 54 Mns | | 1.98 mph |
| 2,492 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 31 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Started at Sunset trailhead around 10 and did the loop counterclockwise. I figured I’d make it to the plane for a late lunch and hammock chill time, and the afternoon hike out on Butterfly might be shady with the sun dipping below the ridges above. It pretty much worked out.
The trail through Bear Wallow and up Bigelow was mostly new to me. Very woodsy and delightful to walk in. The road walk part wasn’t terrible.
Heading down Butterfly from Bigelow, one is immediately traversing an epic patch of raspberry bushes. Not a single raspberry this late in the season. I was super bummed I didn’t do this hike a month ago. ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
At Westfall Knob I met two deer, one with antlers. Pretty sure they were in a relationship. The buck stuck around much longer, hiding rather unconvincingly behind a tree. I got a nice video of him, and advised him that he really should develop a stronger fear of people. Especially those with bows and arrows.
The plane is still there but seems to have less graffiti. Not sure if someone tried cleaning it up or if the monsoon rains did it.
I got a nice long stretch of hammock time in a lovely spot not far from the plane. I didn’t pack up till three.
The hike out was much slower than I expected. I took lots of breaks to catch my breath on the switchbacks. It was very humid and lush, with periodic signs warning of poison ivy. I was sweating profusely. By the second set of switchbacks I pulled out the trekking poles to engage 4WD, which helped a lot.
I was back at the car just after 5, then headed home. I was puzzled by the fact there was zero traffic going downhill, but a lot of folks headed up. Was there some apocalypse in Tucson I didn’t know about? |
|
Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
A few maples starting to turn in Bear Wallow. Some aspens on Butterfly thinking hard about it. |
|
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
Quite a variety but definitely on the tail end of things. Lots of dead heads. |
|
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
