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| Backpack | 30.40 Miles |
5,214 AEG |
| | Backpack | 30.40 Miles | 2 Days | | |
| 5,214 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This little over-nighter turned out to be a hotter, drier and more rugged introduction to the west Mazatzals than I was looking for. My initial plans were an out and back to the Club Cabin area. However, on Friday I got the idea to try and incorporate the Sears Trail into my plan and make a large loop.
I did not research the loop I was going to make that much, but did download almost everyone's routes who had been in the area. I was using Outlander's posted loop route and some off trail extravaganza route of Bruce's to navigate Sears Trail. I ended up deciding to bail on doing the loop because there was just no water to be found and I was starting to lose faith in being able to find the connector trail to Davenport. But instead of turning around, I thought I would take Bruce's crosscut route he apparently made while visiting waterfalls in the area. I thought, "how bad could it be?" take his crosscut route to a the first point I can climb up onto Davenport and then head for the Club. Needless to say his route ended up not being very backpack friendly, but the water fall he marked on his GPS did end up being our saving grace.
I had given my last water to the dogs on the ridgleline coming down, because they were going on over an hour without water, it was on the blind faith that we would find some water in the upcoming canyons. I was hoping that water would be at a waterfall marked along Bruce's route. However, soon I was starting to doubt we would find any, as all the canyon bottoms within sight were dry. After finally reaching one of those dry canyon floors, we started to make our way towards the marked waterfall at the intersection of a parallel canyon. As we neared and maybe after an aloud prayer asking for some water to be there, Blanco heard the trickle and was off, right around the corner was a trickling waterfall, complete with deep pool underneath. The waterfall ended up being the start of a long stretch of continuous water anyways, but man did I fee like we found an oasis at the time. We made my way down canyon looking for the quickest possible route up to Davenport. I finally committed to the steep climb out and after about 7-8 tenths of a mile hit Davenport. The climb was rough on the dogs, but we were now on Davenport and I was still itching to make it to the Club.
I should have just called it a day and turned around there, but all the water in the canyon we climbed out of had me convinced that there must be some water still residing in the secondary washes along Davenport. This held to not be true and the dogs and I had a pretty hot dry hike up Davenport. I ended up giving the last of my water to the dogs just after four and we did not see water until about a mile before the Club Cabin area, sometime after six p.m. All the springs were dry and there was not even as much as a puddle left in any wash. The lack of water was compounded by the blazing midday sun and no shade. Seeing that my death march was now taking a toll on the pups, I said to myself, "stop camp, first available water." Dog Spring had a great site, but no water, Rock Spring bone dry and then finally I heard the trickle of water as we made our final drop before heading up canyon towards Club Cabin.
The campsite was not perfect, but was much appreciated. I never have too much trouble finding the good in a campsite out in the middle of the wilderness. Usual camp business, but with a little more sense of urgency due to the late arrival. The dogs were out after food and water. I had a small fire and was able to still grade a pretty good pile of essays. In bed relatively early, slept very well. The moon was great company.
I woke up early Sunday with aspirations of still making it to the cabin and then heading back, but I wised up. I knew the low light of an early start would serve the pups better on Davenport heading back to the TH. The hike out was much nicer than day one and made me wish I would have never tried to wrap the Sears Trail into my backpack. But I still found as much good in the trip as I could. It was nice to make it out to the western Mazzys, but the area really does not compare to some of the areas I have grown fond of on the other side of the range.
The heat and lack of water made the hike a little precarious at moments and I thought I broke poor Cup off on day one, but she woke up spry and chased rabbits with Blanco nearly up to the end. |
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J M Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | No way to access spring, as its in a concrete box, but water seeping out bottom, enough for dogs to drink |
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Trail Springs |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| | | trickle in wash with some small pools, actual cement trough in disrepair | | _____________________
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Route Editor
Route Scout
We decided to do the loop instead of going down the Sears trail.
