|
| | | Lane Mountain - Willow Spring Loop, AZ | | | |
|
|
Lane Mountain - Willow Spring Loop, AZ
| | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 21.46 Miles |
5,000 AEG |
| | Hiking | 21.46 Miles | 11 Hrs 31 Mns | | 2.38 mph |
| 5,000 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 30 Mns Break | 16 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | Back to attempt this loop after being thwarted last week with Mechanical problems.
There was another Vehicle at the TH at 7:30 with all doors open. I noticed there was a guy on the ground, on a pad, asleep. When we got out we noticed the Truck was running  . There were two chairs set up with a cooler and empties... All strange, but we had a hike to do.
Nice temps in the 70's as we hiked FR 100 towards to the top of Watson peak. First time up here and the views were Killer at our high point of 7203' for the day.
Back down to make the turn on Lane Mountain #233 which sets up some great views to the south and west. We found the old sign for the Sullivan Spring and decided to give it a looky see... took awhile, but success, complete w/ filterable water.
I have been talking with Jason Williams, the Trails & Wilderness Manager for the Prescott Natl. Forest, and giving him trail updates and asking questions. I had mentioned that the last time we hiked Lane Mountain in 2013, there was a 2" Black water pipe that ran for 4.3 miles from around Sullivan Spring to Copper Camp spring. He checked and found out that the pipe had been fully removed as of 2 weeks ago. He said a Drilling Rig had been flown in via a Sikorsky Helicopter for a copper mining operation and the rig required water. All is back to normal now.
We made the turn off Lane Mountain, on an old mining road at Lane Spring. The spring is located 30' east of the non-working tank at the base of a cliff and contained some nice looking water.
My thermometer read constantly in the low 90's in these lower sections of the hike, with little shade to escape the sun. I used my Chromedome umbrella more on this hike than any other.
We took a short break at the Milk Ranch ruins where there was no water in Boulder Creek. Back on a mining road on Joe's Ridge past dry Joes Tank and we took lunch at Willow Spring where I'd planned to filter some water.
Willow Spring marks the lower TH for the Willow Spring Trail #236. Willow Spring was not the clear cool 2' pool that was here before, but a scratched out muddy, bee infested, 1' round, 2" deep cesspool. I was running low so I filtered with my MSR Microworks. It came out slightly tinged in color, but smelled like a cows restroom. Without any further treatment options w/ me, I can't drink this...
The Willow Springs trail is best done in long pants. The lower portions has some catclaw. The upper portions are in the pines.
We took the short side trip over to the South Fort ruins to enjoy the views.
By the time we got back to the TH we were relieved to see that the Cherokee was gone, there was no crime scene tape up, and my fuel had not been syphoned.
Video From Watson Peak and South Fort Ruins  http://youtu.be/6new9vzTono
I went to start the Pfinder and there was nothing...Damn, Crown King will be the death of me yet! Luckily an easy fix, as the battery cable had vibrated off the terminal. Phew... |
|
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
|
|
  |
Lane Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Small Spring box (18" x 18" cut into cliff was full of nice clear water. |
 |
Lion Spring |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | There could be water back there, it's plenty green, but way to thick to get to it. |
|
Sullivan Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Small 2' x 2' spring box full of filterable water. |
|
Willow Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | I had counted on this one that was wet on previous trip.
I filtered from a small, muddy, bee filled pool.
It came out a little discolored. It smelled like cow urine so it ultimately got dumped. | | _____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
