Aravaipa Canyon Photoset • tibber • 2009-09-26 • HikeArizona.COM

Aravaipa Canyon, AZ

	2009-09-26
	28 by tibber

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Aravaipa Canyon

Globe, AZ

Aravaipa Canyon

Globe, AZ

Backpack	10.00 Miles	200 AEG

Backpack	10.00 Miles	2 Days
	200 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

	oliverr99	Sarae
	te_wa	tiffhiker
	writelots

It is a beautiful drive (Thx Te-Wa for driving) from Superior to the Trailhead. Those two mining areas are really something. Note, the biggest town between Superior and the west trailhead is Kearney.

The hike itself is just great. I went with the ABC group of 10-12 people. The canyon walls, the Cottonwoods, the fairly easy obstacles to get around, the bedrock, the occasional breeze, the going in & out & around the creek and very limited bouldering make for a wonderfully pleasant journey. There is just so much to see and everytime you stop, you need to look in all directions to take it all in... oh and take a few pictures.

This was only my third backpack trip and the first time with my medium Osprey Aura 65 pack. After I adjusted it at our first rest stop, it rode great. For the trip out, not so much, but I think I forgot to tighten some straps. Camping at Horse Camp Canyon was very nice. It was easy to get water, there were nice long logs around a fire ring and there was plenty of shade... altho it was hot until 5:30 and we could have used a little more breeze. However, the temps were PERFECT for sleeping.

Anne and I stayed back while the others ventured to Booger Canyon. We decided to gather some wood so that we wouldn't be "voted off the island" : rambo :

. As we were doing our last bit of gathering, I heard this sound and decided there had to be animal(s) in them there woods and sure enough, some coatis were running up and down a large lateral branch of a tree. I yelled to Anne to come see. Unfortunately, I only got one picture. So I've been lucky as I've now seen coatis on 3 of the last 4 hikes I've taken.

Jason fixed the fire ring and built and tended a great fire. Mike the mud foot man helped to gather wood as well. Libations and stories were shared by all as we got to know each other. It was a wonderful end to a great day as I waited for the Tylenol PM to kick in.

Sunday, we started at 9:45AM back to the trailhead. I stayed with the lead group for all of 15 minutes

. I tell ya, it was like horses back to the barn. I was back by 1:15, almost an hour they tell me after the first horses, I mean hikers, arrived. However, I was at the tail. That last hour was REALLY hot too. Thanks to everyone that hung back with me on this trip (I gotta take pictures you know). It was a great way to get to know you better too. And as always, my mentor, the original "Wendy" made sure I was managing okay.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Throwing a Wendy

_____________________

For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled.

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