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| Hiking | 7.01 Miles |
880 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.01 Miles | 3 Hrs 29 Mns | | 2.01 mph |
| 880 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | When I last visited the area in 2018, I first hiked along the east rim of Arnett. From that vantage point, I spotted what looked like an old jeep trail up the face of the cliff on the west side of the canyon. When I reached the bottom, I couldn’t find the old jeep trail, or any trail other than the official one along the canyon bottom.
I hit the trail at 8:20 a.m. Though 58℉, it was cloudy and felt chilly, so I wore a hoodie.
Perhaps the best fall color was in a grove just past the large boulders blocking further vehicle access. Just beyond the grove, at the first of many dry creek crossings, was a carsonite post indicating this was officially now “Arnett Canyon Trail” — not just a foot path — and that the AZT was ahead.
Ten minutes later I came to a split in the trail. A engraved wood sign announced “↑ Arnett Cyn. Tr. No. 218 … ↑ Jct. L.O.S.T. Tr. No. 221 … ↑ Picketpost TH 4” miles. I was here to explore, so before I went straight on Trail #218, I first went left to see what was over that way. In 300 yds., the spur trail ends at FR 4, which has another Arnett Canyon trail sign. The signs were all recent additions.
Back on Trail #218, I passed through the first bolted metal tube gate, then by three new gabions. What the gabions were for, I do not know. At the junction of Telegraph, there was another new engraved wood sign. It’s becoming positively civilized down in there!
Though the creek had some shallow pools, I was able to cross dry, then begin the climb. It was steep — 400 ft. in ⅓ mile (23%) — but short. Other than one 30 ft. section, footing was bueno.
I lost the trail about 50 ft. below the edge of the mesa, but by that point it did not matter. The top is rolling, covered in sparse grass, and a scattering of the usual stabby things.
I worked my way counter-clockwise around the mesa’s northeast rim. There were great views of Apache Leap, Superior, its dirt strip airport, the open pit copper mine, Perlite Road, Apache Tears Mine and Boyce Thompson Arboretum. I could even make out the AZ-60 bridge over Queen Creek Canyon. Fall color in Arnett was moderate. My iPhone had 3-bar Verizon LTE reception.
Turning back to the middle of the mesa, I spotted a fairly large cairn. I’d heard there were multiple cairns, and more pink tape, on top of the mesa, but otherwise came up empty-handed. I hiked a ½ mile east, but for some reason turned around before reaching the point overlooking Finger Rock.
To my southwest was a small side canyon of Telegraph. I could have crossed it, but it looked fairly deep, so instead I followed the elevation contour around the top of it. Turns out it was only 125 ft. deep. 
150 yds. later, I came upon a second side canyon. It looked more rugged so, again, to save effort I worked the elevation contour line. I was now close to the bottom of Picketpost Mountain’s summit cliffs, in a couple of acres of pink granite, at the top of a third side canyon. Unless you return the way you came, that pink granite marks the best route down.
Descending the third side canyon, from the pink granite to Telegraph, is not at all difficult. It’s a pretty little canyon. There is often a path and, when there isn’t, head for the low point. Footing is never an issue. The only problem is catclaw, but if you are paying attention, you can mostly avoid the grab & stabs. If you look out, there’s nice views of various formations further up Telegraph, along the AZT.
The trail down Telegraph wasn’t always as obvious as the one in Arnett, but it was still far better than The Old Days when a fair amount of bushwhacking was involved. At one point, looking down as I do when walking, I glanced up … and jumped. Yikes! Thought it was a critter. Instead, it was just a badger-shaped log. 
Back at Finger Rock, I took a brief break. Afterwards, I booked it back up Arnett Canyon to my car.
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v41qto2-new-explorin ... ntain.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/895526154 |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Light
Not as good as 2nd week of December in previous years. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Couple of yellow things in shady areas. Couple of fleabane in Arnett afternoon sun. |
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Arnett Creek |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | | Some water below Finger Rock. |
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Telegraph Canyon |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | | Even less lower Telegraph than in Arnett. | | _____________________
| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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