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| Merritt Draw - Maverick Cny Loop, AZ | |
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| | Merritt Draw - Maverick Cny Loop, AZ | | | |
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Merritt Draw - Maverick Cny Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 5.63 Miles |
909 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.63 Miles | 5 Hrs 32 Mns | | 1.02 mph |
| 909 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This was the usual annual spring weekend campout and hiking trip with my Son-in-Law and Grandson to Camp Grasshopper on FR139C on the Mogollon Rim. This year Michael and Lloyd wanted to search for elk antler sheds. They had heard that April was the time for shedding. After some discussion we decided for our first day's search we would hike from camp to Merritt Draw on FR9735P, drop down into the draw and hike down the draw to Drift Fence Spring. From there, we would climb up the west side of the draw and proceed on a loop crossing 3 ridges towards our camp. We spread out on each side of our planned route to search as much area as possible using whistles and walkie talkies to stay in touch, especially useful when one member of the threesome was significantly slower than the other two.
The section of the hike in Merritt Draw is quite scenic and fairly easy to walk down. We encountered scattered bones from the demise of several unfortunate critters (mostly elk) in years past but no antler sheds. Climbing out of the draw on the West side we followed an elk trail splitting up as we neared the top of the ridge. Upon reaching a level area on the rim of the ridge, the older member of this threesome, but still possessing sharp vision, spotted our first shed from about 50 yards away and called Michael over to look at "something of interest". We had agreed that whoever found a shed had to carry it out, so it was Michael who first reached the shed  and had the honor of carrying it out. This was only right because Michael was the one who wanted to hang any sheds we found on the wall in his bedroom. However, Lloyd said my daughter had agreed to having them hung on the wall in their living room. She is quite tolerant of such things, especially with her son, but I think Lloyd was joking.
Continuing on our search for antler sheds, we followed the ridge top for some distance. Upon reaching the rim overlooking Maverick Canyon, Lloyd found another antler shed, A 6-pointer almost identical to the first but obviously not the missing pair antler from the first find because it was from the same side of the head of a different elk. Full of ourselves because of the successes of our mission, we continued our search across two more ridge tops on the way back to camp. Although unsuccessful in finding more sheds, Michael did discover what he thought to be an old stash of liquor which included a gallon bottle of a mysterious green liquid. Although I was the only expert of the group in such things, I was too exhausted from our hike to waste the energy to go inspect his find. Thankfully, he already had an awkward load to carry with the elk antler shed and decided not to bring the mysterious bottle of green liquid back to camp.
Back at camp by midafternoon, we relaxed enjoying snacks provided for this outing by Mrs. Oregon_Hiker. The older member of this three-some may have taken a nap. Michael who seems to have an unlimited amount of energy, collected firewood, sawed and split several logs, and had a blazing campfire going by dinner time. He's heard my tales of the campfire building prowess of @nonot and firewood gathering expertise of @chumley and is trying to emulate them. |
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