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| Manning Camp via Reddington Road, AZ | |
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| | Manning Camp via Reddington Road, AZ | | | |
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Manning Camp via Reddington Road, AZ
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| Hiking | 24.48 Miles |
5,954 AEG |
| | Hiking | 24.48 Miles | 11 Hrs 8 Mns | | 2.46 mph |
| 5,954 ft AEG | 1 Hour 10 Mns Break | | | |
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| Partners |
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none
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| no partners | | End of payment Drive to TH
After a minute of washboard, it's a series of corkscrew turns to gain elevation. After miles of wavy rock road, it turns into moguls. Finally, a sense of sanity for a mile or two passing Bellota Ranch, and you're at the trailhead.
Italian Spring Trail #95
The first 5.25 mi won't excite most. I think it's pretty cool on the edge of the Sonoran Desert with a different vegetation feel versus the outskirts of Phoenix.
Reached a creek crossing at about 5.1 miles, there's well over a hundred gallons of water. A larger pool in an unnamed tributary just 0.15 mi further to the next ravine. 7.2 mi up, you start getting shade and sanity if it's a hot day.
0.25 mi to the NPS gate, I noticed mica often on the trail.
Ferns were waist-high at Italian Spring. It started to sprinkle with calm waves of light rain to follow.
North Slope Trail - Saguaro NP
Only on this for its upper 0.5 mi. Satellite shows the east is torched. At least four fires, but it seemed trivial to me; most of this stretch is pine-covered.
Fire Loop Trail - Mica
Only on this for 0.35 mi. Notable for this out-and-back because the top is the high point at ~8607 ft.
Mica Mountain Trail
Have always taken this trail because it's the shortest distance to Manning Camp. It's not as nice as Jacinto or Big Bear, but seems as nice as Mount Baldy IMO.
Return
Expecting to see people at Manning Camp, I turned the sound off on RS earlier on Fire Loop, figuring I knew the rest of the hike by memory. Realized I was off-trail 0.2 mi up Cow Head Saddle Trail. Instead of heading back, I cut through the forest over a small rise.
Noticed evidence of large bears that ate large seeds. Perhaps hackberry seeds, as one was loaded with berries in various ripening stages.
It rained very lightly for maybe an hour total. Luckily, it was all in the pines and diffused because I ditched the umbrella. Only a couple of claps of thunder.
The Catalinas got pounded with squalls throughout the afternoon.
It was a light rain for the last couple of miles, so the hottest part of the hike never surfaced.
Synopsis
Furthest I've ventured solo since May 2020. This is one of my favorite hikes in Arizona. 2 months shy of 10 years since the good ol' days ended.
Almost in shape for lion season... |
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Carolyn's Creek |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| |  About 50 gallons, super clear with just a trickle of water
I didn't notice this on the hike up, even though I heard it through Route Scout.
On the return Route Scout mentioned it again. I looked and saw rain hitting the pool of water. |
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Italian Spring |
Dry |
Dry |
| | I could not find any pooled water or any trickling water where the seep is notched out of the mountain, as MacEwen describes.
The only moisture in the area was from a recent sprinkle. | | _____________________
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