|
| | | |
| |
|
| Snowshoeing | 4.69 Miles |
235 AEG |
| | Snowshoeing | 4.69 Miles | 3 Hrs 51 Mns | | 1.83 mph |
| 235 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | After burning through whatever energy my legs had by breaking trail Saturday, I opted to head for the Rim Lakes area on Sunday. I was going under the assumption that somebody would have been up there and run FR300 in a snowmobile, packing down a track for easier snowshoeing along the rim. As it turned out, nobody had been there.
But a couple minutes after arriving, a big toy hauler pulled in after driving up from Chandler. He had three snowmobiles and was going to head out, so I thanked him and informed him that I'd be following in his tracks. While impatiently waiting for them to get their stuff together, I might've had it out with some idiot camping in the parking lot who seemed to think that blasting Christmas music across the forest was normal/acceptable/reasonable/seasonal?
Anyway, snowshoeing was pleasant in the tracks, but my thought of going all the way to Woods Canyon Lake was quickly put to rest, and we swung out toward the rim near military sinkhole to enjoy the solitude and views.
On the return, the Rim Lakes parking area was an absolute pooeyshow of people and I couldn't get away from it soon enough. The drive home was no less entertaining, with the Beeline highway littered with people who have never seen snow before, or somehow thought that parking on a 65mph highway shoulder was a good idea. Or sledding into it.
I felt bad for the kids whose parents brought them to the area between four peaks and sycamore creek to go sledding. It must be awful to be sliding on snow through catclaw bushes, only to come to a complete stop in a prickly pear!
There was a virtual parking lot of instagram photographers capturing the elusive shot of the four peaks with snow on them. From the highway. Because, yay. I wonder if this is the real reason why people from colder climates hate winter so much? It's not actually the snow, it's the people! It freezes their brains!  |
| _____________________
| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
I definitely appreciate their efforts.
Next up, I saw a large paw print in the mud. I quickly realized I had to get out of that canyon area ASAP. As much as I’d love to see a bear, I’d rather not be solo hiking for my first time. 
Anyway, I quickly exited the canyon and got into a more flat wooded area. There was still no trail, but it was heading towards one, so I was all good. This path linked up with the military sinkhole trail and goes by some pretty rim vista viewpoint spots. The path became paved for a bit and I was not a fan. I moved very quickly on this section just to get it over with. There was an intersection that was following what looked like an old road, so I headed that way (ultimately choosing same as the route I was following instead of staying on the paved path). The path quickly faded and it was just random walking on overgrown grassy areas. I did get to see a couple of aspens that were just starting to turn yellow! 
Any signs of Fall are always promising! Anyways, the random path dumped me out on rim road, which I crossed then followed a different trail a little ways before finally making it back to the forest road I had parked on. I was suuuuper happy to see Lexi the off road sedan! On the way back, I saw a completely torched RV with caution/crime scene tape. Really happy that got contained and didn’t start a larger fire. Overall, great day on the rim!
I had never hiked this loop before; thought I would get out of the heat down in Phoenix and hike in the Payson area. But it was pretty hot here as well with quite a bit of sun exposure on the last half of the hike. Pretty views from the top, however, made the trip worthwhile. Next time I think I'll wait until cooler weather to attempt this one again. All in all a great day, just too hot. 
