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| Hiking | 12.70 Miles |
2,810 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.70 Miles | 6 Hrs 37 Mns | | 1.93 mph |
| 2,810 ft AEG | 2 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | 13 years since I hiked the Mormon Trail, seems like I never did it because I can barely remember it. Started about 5:45am in the dark. First 2 hikers I saw were coming downhill with no lamps in total darkness  . Saw a few more heading downhill, must have got an early start to finish early.
Got up to the National Trail and took a left into Hidden Valley, bypassed Fat Man's Pass. Some of the slick and polished granite in Hidden Valley made for a bit more hazardous conditions with the damp sand everywhere.
halfway into Hidden Valley I took the rough route up to the Guadalupe Ridge and hiked that over to its junction with the National Trail. I hadn't hiked on Guadalupe Ridge in about 10 years, so I forgot how much bouldering is on this trail/route. It ended up taking more time that I had intended but at least that was out of the way early. The cooler morning weather and dampness also helped.
Took the National over to Corona de Loma and headed down. Along the flat portion of Corona de Loma I was passed by a trail runner with no shirt, no water, and smoking a cigarette  . One of the odder things I've seen hiking.
headed up Corona de Loma east and quickly got off trail, heading up the canyon when the trail cuts to the south a bit and out of the canyon. There is a faint trail in the canyon, but it was getting fainter the further up I went, so when I caught my mistake I just doubled back. The ascent back up was slow as the sun was heating things up a bit by now. No hikers or bikers along this trail at all.
got back on the National and headed back. Walked back all the way through Hidden Valley, then made a left and got on the Mormon Trail further down. From Hidden valley to the trailhead it was steady traffic, pretty much all hikers.
the lot was full when I got back and the late arrivals were circling like vultures for open spots. Best views were of the mountains to the north newly covered in snow from the storms the night before. Nice workout hike on trails I haven't done in a long time, got nearly 3K' AEG |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
Darkness is becoming more common for my early morning hikes, but I’ve found this is one of the easier “nighttime” hikes. The city lights and the moon (if there is one), do a fantastic job of illuminating a rocky but worn path. No problem starting out in the dim light at 5am. It was a very cloudy morning and I was hoping for a good sunrise. It did not disappoint. I found myself in one of those rare situations where I was torn between wanting to stand and watch a fiery morning, displaying an array of colors from deep purples to incandescent oranges to actually doing the hike I had planned. I did my best trying to do both. Back in the day, you could waste a roll of film on an event. I felt I could very have wasted a memory card in trying to capture the morning show. I always enjoy doing the Mormon Trail and Hidden Valley is always a treat. I was fortunate that these trails allowed for decent sunrise views, so I was able to get the best of both worlds.
