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| Hiking | 19.93 Miles |
1,732 AEG |
| | Hiking | 19.93 Miles | 7 Hrs 48 Mns | | 2.69 mph |
| 1,732 ft AEG | 23 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | We got Andy in on this one for the first AZT segment since last year around this time when we broke him with this bad hip on Mt. Lemmon. This was mostly level but we did 20 miles, and Andy seemed pretty beat by the end.
Started just before 8am from Gooseberry Springs TH heading north. Chilly to start but not uncomfortable. Most of the scenery is the same, shady with trees, and some open areas as you get farther north. There are some interpretive info signs outlining the history of the railroads through this area, which you can see remnants of along the hike. While you can tell the landscape has been altered, it is surprising how much has really faded away from only back in the 1960s considering it was a pretty substantial industrial endeavor at the time.
Pretty much the entire hike was thru the pines with very even grades when there was a change in elevation. Some open areas were present with meadows and areas hit by fire. Saw barely any wildlife, not even many birds, which may have been due to how windy it was. Wally and Andy spotted some elk in an open area, but they were gone before the could get any pics.
We hiked in 10 miles, took lunch, and turned around. Temps warmed up a little on the way back, but it was still very comfortable and cool.
The funniest part of the day was on the ride home. On Lake Mary Road in the middle of the southbound lane were two Kaibab squirrels in flagrante, oblivious to the danger of the traffic. I drove over them with the clearance of the Xterra sparing their lives, which I knew would happen. Not sure what the next vehicle was or if it had the necessary clearance for a "happy ending". Andy and Wally laughed for the next 3 miles and Andy started singing a Beatles song relevant to the situation.  |
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