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| | | Arches & Top Hat via Hackamore, AZ | | | |
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Arches & Top Hat via Hackamore, AZ
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| Hiking | 13.03 Miles |
2,006 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.03 Miles | 8 Hrs 35 Mns | | 1.72 mph |
| 2,006 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
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| Partners |
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[ show ]
| partners | | What she said: [ triplog ]
What he said: [ triplog ]
I can't think of much to add but I will.
It was a little windy/cool to start but after the unplanned summit of Top Hat, the sun pretty much stayed out and the breeze subsided. I'm glad we chose to summit Top Hat when we did as I doubt I would have toward the end. As summits go it really is pretty easy especially the way we took using the bedrock for traction for 1/2 of it. The views are surely worth the climb!
and then the ridge walk down to Palo Verde Arch was another unplanned bonus for "as long as we're up here". You can get some nice pictures through both sides of the arch. Now from here down to Weeks Wash was a whole other ball game. It is difficult between the rolly poly rocks and the downess of it. Kelly and I remembered that from one of our hikes we did previous in this area.
The rest of the hike toward Pedestal Arch was in and out and along some drainages with a path for some parts of it. We followed the track where you have to go alongside a wash (north), thru it and then back (south) as you go back toward the drainage and up it toward Pedestal. We didn't enjoy that part too much as you hate not going in a somewhat straight line. We ventured up the drainage and this is when I started to lose most of my energy and steam. We had started at 8:45 and it was now almost 1:00 PM without a break or snack. I usually need a break and/or snack around the 5 mile mark.
I kept wanting to pullover for just a moment to refuel before finishing the ascent but that wasn't in the cards and just when I was ready to give up the ghost Kelly says from what looked to be a top area, "sit down for a moment and have a snack as you will want to have lunch at the Arch". She says, "you'll be sorry if you don't and you're so close". She and/or Ray were willing to carry my pack... but that wasn't the issue. I just needed a little fuel. Well Kelly hasn't steered me wrong yet so after a couple bites of my Payday and drinking some coconut water, up I went and there it was  . Whew!
Now that the drama for the day was over, we enjoyed the company, the views and the weather. Kelly ventured south over to the top of a little mountain side and I joined her. As I was peaking over the side and she was running from a bee, I noticed the terrain looked a lot better for our descent so we decided to give that a try. It was a good choice. I hope that made up for the whining earlier. We made our way down to the drainage and took a bit of a shortcut from earlier and headed over for the next waypoint I had marked as "Must See". We hiked up to what I dubbed the Squishing Boulder so Kelly could see how far she could go but she got chock-stoned so had to come back the way she had started. Next it was to the Tunnel and that was really cool. We spotted some grinding holes too.
We discussed following Mark's route to the south but because of time limitations and not knowing the area, we went back the way we came. We found the Figure 8 intersection up thru some bedrock but decided due to time once again to continue the way we came. It was a pretty hike back as the sun was lighting up the golden rock. We took a break below Top Hat before finishing off the hike with some great views toward the sun lighting up the Four Peaks, Weavers Needle and the Western Supes. We did have to pull aside for what seemed a mass exodus of ATVs. We were glad to be able to finally pull off the road.
At the TH we all had a beer and enjoyed watching the sunset change the colors of the sky on various views around us. Ray headed home and Kelly and I went to Mammoth Steakhouse for some burgers and coffee. FYI - My sirloin burger was good but the Mammoth burger is much better. The service was a little slow this time but I like the place and it's close and open until 8. We even got fiddled at. Thx for a great hike as always Kelly. You got me up another peak. This is my second hike with Ray and second peak.
1-13-2017 I only have one video up on youtube so far, two others are done in production with a few more to complete. I set out not wanting to film too much but alas, when it's so beautiful out there, it's hard not to. I also got carried away with the pictures but like Kelly says, I am a Documentarian... I'm thinking of changing it to Tibbernarian  .
Thank goodness for the long weekend, here are the videos:
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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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Route Editor
Route Scout
). Took fs 3512 in for about .7 miles and then followed a use road for another .6. Passed three “tempting” single tracks that crossed the road at various points. (I had to keep telling myself to “stay on target”). The fourth single track was actually signed 311 and just happened to be same route as the Orohai Loop. An ok single track that went for .8 miles. There had been some minor rerouting to minimize erosion but the trail always came back to the uploaded route. The trail does a steep climb up a hill where it splits at the top. One branch goes to the east, the other to the west. Both segments are well used but nothing is signed. The uploaded route had me going west. As mentioned, this single track goes for about .8 miles where it ends at fs 1356. Interestingly, this single track trail is signed at this end as 309. Not sure if I misread the first sign (where the single track started) or if I some how lost 311 and picked up 309 without realizing it. Not a huge deal. I was still on route, just like to know what trail I was really on.
Route 
invited us out to the Goldfields to see a natural arch formation known as "The Mask". One of the two arches comprising the mask has collapsed, so what we actually visited is now referred to as the "Cyclops". Loop shown in photoset.
They didn't find another arch but did find a grinding hole in the alcove used by the Hohokam to get out of the sun.
](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
I would mistake something for what it was not on this Bulldog hike. Anyway, after the steep climb we finally arrived at our destination. I remarked to Ambika about the rock growing around the saguaro before quickly realizing the error in that statement 
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(I will share on the forum).
! As the Orohai (Kelly pronounced this several different ways during our hike) Loop veered toward Top Hat, it is such a cool mountain. We got to the 3-way intersection and determined we had to go north.
where we would have if we hadn't missed that turn. We were so proud of ourselves we decided to have lunch there. The spring is full by the way. Back on the trail we were now on FR 3512. We admired the lush green grass below the trees and the wash area to our left that we walked in for just a moment.
but it wasn't too bad really.
Got out my trusted steed and off to the top of the loop of Orohai Trail, parked and headed up. Arches are hard to spot until your near them. We hiked out past them to check on a rather large cave ?, but couldn't or I guess didn't want to..... 
.. Love these Arches, can't wait to check others out. 
HAZ and fellow hikers for down loading Routes with your Triplogs.
