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| | | Moonshine - Heliograph - Ladybug, AZ | | | |
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Moonshine - Heliograph - Ladybug, AZ
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| Hiking | 8.61 Miles |
1,679 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.61 Miles | 3 Hrs 46 Mns | | 2.58 mph |
| 1,679 ft AEG | 26 Mns Break | 8 LBS Pack | | |
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[ show ]
| partners | | Day 3 in the Pinalenos. We hit these 3 on the way out.
Moonshine Creek
Starting from Cunningham CG, we headed down the trail. It doesn't look like this trail has received much maintenance, so a GPS track helps guide you. The payoff is the viewpoint on the rock outcropping at the end. Taking the FR, you could drive just about any vehicle with decent clearance and tires to within 500 feet of the spot. It's definitely a worthwhile stop. We opted for a road walk back instead of getting scratched up on the trail.
Heliograph Peak Loop
We started at Shannon CG and headed clockwise up, up, up to the peak. We passed Eagle Peak, and I would have liked to hit the rugged namesake outcropping, but it wasn't in the cards this time. Fall was definitely showing off on this one, with golden aspens stealing the scene. At the top, I met up with the speedsters who were just coming down from the 99.9-foot Heliograph lookout tower. I climbed the tower to take in the views and, more importantly, dry off from the climb. We searched for the peak marker but to no avail. The peak register was damp, so we didn’t attempt to sign it. We completed the loop by heading down the tower road.
[ youtube video ]
Back at the trailhead, we chatted with the camp host, who is also the sole volunteer clearing trails in the entire park. He’s currently working on the Ash Creek Trail. Apparently, the Park Service has a hiring freeze for at least the next 18 months.
Ladybug Peak
We had to hit this one as our last stop on the way out. Short and sweet. It was getting hot, with temperatures reaching the mid-70s. I guess we missed @SkyIslander18 by just a few hours, as he completed this hike later in the day. And if you’re wondering… yes, there were ladybugs on the peak!
All in all, it was a great trip to the Pinalenos. We had the perfect campsite, centrally located to the range’s options. Temps dropped to 49°F in the morning and reached the high 60s to low 70s during the day. Good times.....
Kelly… got your phone?
John… headlamp off, please. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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