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| Hiking | 10.00 Miles |
2,484 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.00 Miles | | | |
| 2,484 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | My brother Ryan came up to Prescott for the day so we headed into the Bradshaws. We parked at Knapp Gulch on Walker Road and then set off on foot for Potato Patch and Mount Union trail. Warm and crazy humid, lots of grass, wildflowers, and running water in the creeks as we climbed trail #285 to the headwaters of the Hassayampa.
Found the trail blocked by brush and re-routed near the top of Mount Union, which now turns south to approach the summit from the east. Noticeable burn damage along the south slopes of Union from the Crook Fire, but gambel oaks are already 3 feet high in some of those areas. Took a nice long lunch break in the shade on the summit before the second half.
From the summit we continued east on Yankee Doodle Trail #284, which had been re-routed onto a now-burned ridge crest, instead of the old route to the west. I prefer the shadier old route. We descended to Snowdrift Mine Road, then followed it north, with a side trip down to the Snowdrift Mine itself, whose waste dump is covered in some sort of environmental protective sheathing.
After the mine we walked up to the top of hill 7280, where I expected us to be able to hop over the ridge and follow an old road down Knapp Gulch to our starting point. Numerous private property signs and a solid line of houses blocked our return route. I didn’t remember that from my last hike, but that was 10 years ago. We paced the road a bit, looking for a way through, then went through the brush heading west with no luck, just angering someone’s dogs. We went further west and then off-trailed up onto Mount Davis’ northeast ridge. Success, no houses or private property! We then descended a sub-ridge northwest which dropped us down to the Knapp Gulch road. A short walk with much-welcomed shade took us back to Ryan’s car. Had a celebratory Mexican food dinner in Prescott with the family afterward.
Great hike, but I think it would be wise to identify private property in the Bradshaws before planning hikes there, as there are a ridiculous number of homes buried in the forested mountainsides on old mining claims in the Bradshaws. I find it odd to see mostly unoccupied mansions built on top of mine dumps, but I would happily accept one if it was presented to me.  |
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| "…you never know when a hike might break out" -Jim Gaffigan |
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