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| Hiking | 12.30 Miles |
1,400 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.30 Miles | 5 Hrs 5 Mns | | 2.64 mph |
| 1,400 ft AEG | 25 Mns Break | 12 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | | Last minute decision to go here today, started at Meridian TH, before starting the loop took the short hop down Meridian road to begin on Meridian trail then Blevins , Vista, and Merkle trails finally joining the loop at pass mountain TH ,also added a short trip up toward the ridgeline at the Maricopa Trail junction . Poppies, lupine still blooming but drying out, may last a couple of more weeks,hedgehogs coming out now with there beautiful magenta colored flower. Saw a Gila monster in thick vegetation, no reasonable photo possible. Nice new restroom at the Pass Mountain Trailhead no more port a potties, would suggest a good workout by parking here and hike up to the wind cave via windcave trail and return on the gentle downhill slope on this portion of the loop trail , avoids the crowded small wind cave lot,adds about a mile to the wind cave hike. Cloud cover and breeze kept it cool until midday, trails were populated also until then , only saw 1 hiker on the way down from the saddle to the trailhead. Weekdays are nice as only came across 2 mountain bikers and that was on Blevins. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Mexican poppies, lupine,scorpion weed, Chuparosa,chia,globe mallow. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
up the trail and back down while I was descending. After the Merkle Trail had a snack break back at my vehicle and then headed back to the Wind Cave trailhead. Took Pass Mountain loop trail to the junction with Maricopa Trail. Starting down that I was passed by the only biker I saw today. Once I spied the route to go up Lone Peak I made a diagonal over to it vegetation was not that bad, helped by using some of the ATV tracks. Once heading up passed two young girls headed down having stopped to take pictures at the shade tree with the semicircle of rocks arranged for sitting. Once at the summit took a prolonged break ,even laid down on the bench. There was a young lady sitting off on her own enjoying the views , I guess she decided I didn’t look too scary and she came over to the summit area. Saw no one else until all the way back on pass mountain loop trail. Fortunately mostly downhill from here so was able to finish up quickly . What a nice day to be outside to enjoy the beautiful desert despite minimal wildflowers. Again only a few paltry poppies and lupine not photo worthy on these trails that are usually teeming with them, hope 2022 is better.
