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| Hiking | 3.89 Miles |
1,472 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.89 Miles | 4 Hrs 47 Mns | | 1.87 mph |
| 1,472 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 42 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Four days ago, I drove up a very dusty Seven Springs Road/FR 24, to go up a mountain, for the views and a benchmark. I washed the car the next day.
Washing the car wasn’t too smart, as I just went up the same dusty roads to climb up West Cedar Mountain.
West Cedar Mountain is just north of the Fifty One Ranch and just east of FR 24. Most maps do not show the road I used to get a bit closer to W Cedar Mtn, (off of FR24), even though it has a forest service road number.
I chose to hike straight up the ridge that goes directly to the high point. The mountain has many ‘up’ ridges to other, lesser peaks and also a ridgeline connecting all the peaks. I ran into a load of continuous catclaw on the way up to the high point. My thought was, once done with the high point and benchmark, I would have easy sailing on the ridgeline going north, that connects all those lesser peaks. Not so …….
The entire north ridgeline was full of catclaw and partially burned out trees and brush from a fire in 2005. This made for very slow going, as I was playing ‘dodge-ball’ with the sticky stuff. My hiking shirt got shredded and is now history. I recommend long pants for sure, and covered arms. My hat actually saved me a couple times also.
I finally got tired of getting beat up by vegetation, so I dropped down to a road that was built to facilitate the power lines and towers that run along the west side of the mountain. On the road, back to the trailhead, all of a sudden I could hike at more than 1/2 mph.
The summit log is full of alot of known ‘peak-baggers’, and quite a few hikers from Tucson.
Even though the views (in person) were great, the almost continuous overcast made for murky photos. A new camera (and lessons) may be in order also. If I ever do this hike again, I’ll make sure it’s a sunny day.
Oh, and I’m now off to wash the car again. |
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Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost
J.R.R.TOLKIEN |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
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. Today's hike was fun and Richard is the only triplog. No route or pics though from him. Last night, I drew up a quick route and sent it to RS. The hike started on a road and then went to another "road". The 2nd road ended at the tank and then I headed up trying to avoid catclaw. The route up wasn't too bad except in a few spots. The views today were pretty awesome. Snow in a few shaddy spots. The view of the snowy rim and 4 peaks were nice. I made 2 discoveries on the trip down. The UCLA plastic bottle I found was pretty well made. I also have pretty definitive evidence that Native Americans invented hopscotch. The only downfall was the long drive out there.
