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| Hiking | 0.70 Miles |
1,010 AEG |
| | Hiking | 0.70 Miles | | | |
| 1,010 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Promontory Butte on the rim has captured my interest as of late. This area suffered fire damage during the Horton Fire last December, but finally reopened a couple months ago.
Promontory Butte is accessed from Rim Road 300 via FR-76. I drove down 76 and then turned onto 76B. The map indicated that Promontory Trail was located down 76B. I anticipated this road may not be drivable, but in fact it was a decent road. Narrow for sure, but not wash boarded or rutted. With the area having received a good dose of rain Thursday night going into Friday, I anticipated (correctly) there would be some standing water. About halfway down the 76B road I encountered a big mud puddle and noticed a good parking area off to the side. Fearful of getting stuck in mud, I opted to park the truck and hike to the trailhead, no more than 7-10 minutes away. At the trailhead was a huge class A motorhome and a family campout. Guess that mud puddle wasn't a big deal after all...
There is an overlook at the Promontory Trailhead. I set down my hiking pole on a rock and planned to take in the view. The rock began rattling at me. Carefully, I grabbed my hiking pole and opted to just start heading down Promontory Trail.
Going down Promontory was not particularly enjoyable. The Horton Fire wasn't super high intensity, and most trees are still intact. Unfortunately many of them have died regardless. It was a slow, steep grind down Promontory, although the trail itself is in good shape and easy to follow. The moist, but not muddy, ground helped with traction, although I still got down on all fours a few times to mitigate fall risk.
Eventually I reached the junction with Highline Trail. The signpost is still there, but the sign is gone. An orange piece of ribbon with black polka dots adorned the tree, a relic from the Mogollon Monster 100 two weeks ago (see my Barbershop Canyon blog).
I anticipated making up some time on Highline since it is a great trail and used for mountain biking. I did make good time. Such good time that when I checked my All Trails map it showed I had missed some sort of turn off for Horton Spring Trail. The plan was to use Horton to hike back up the rim. Panicked, I doubled back close to a mile. The supposed trail junction was nowhere to be found. I recalled reading that Highline was re-routed in places a few years ago. With relatively close proximity to Christopher Creek, I was able to get cell service. Google Maps indicated I was on the new Highline trail. Meaning I had doubled back in vain, and now had to re-hike this segment of the trail.
I continued on with All Trails showing me wandering somewhere in the wilderness, albeit roughly parallel to Highline Trail. All Trails map needs to be updated to the new Highline routing. Eventually Highline did intersect Horton at the namesake Horton Spring. This was one of the few pretty areas of the hike with lush foliage and the flowing spring. Most of this section of Highline was fire damaged.
The climb up Horton was short and very steep. It got to me more than I expected, and I took frequent rest breaks. I honestly think the bad energy in the dead forest along Highline had something to do with it. Eventually back up on the rim, I stopped in a shaded area with some nice flat boulders and had lunch. I didn't feel great, likely needing some electrolytes.
The final push to close the loop was about four miles along the 300 road, but using General Crook Trail as much as possible to circumvent the road. General Crook proved hard to find and follow. I ended up getting myself lost in the woods. I told myself not to panic as I observed orange slashes on many of the trees and some crushed beer cans littering the forest floor. Obviously I wasn't too far from civilization. I found a dozer line, likely a fire containment feature from last December. I followed this to an un-mapped road which took me back to 300. I gave up on the General, opting to follow 300. Despite what All Trails shows, I believe General Crook simply is the 300 road, at least in this section.
I did find a great shortcut that worked for me cutting from 300 road back down to the 76 road. I was more sore and tired than I should have been after ~1,800 feet elevation gain and 11 miles.
The highlight of today's trip ended up not being the hike. I bet this area was beautiful just a year ago, but last December's unfortunate fire changed that. No, the highlight was after getting back to the truck I drove the remaining couple miles of 76 out to Promontory Butte Lookout. The nearly 360 degree views of Central Arizona were breathtaking. I could see Payson in the distance and even found my neighborhood through my binoculars. Maybe with a telescope I could find my street or even my house?
There were quite a few people dispersed camping at the overlook. And that got me thinking... I would love to camp here and enjoy the overlook in early morning light. Today's late-afternoon light cast harsh shadows and obscured some of the views.
While I don't plan on hiking the Promontory-Highline-Horton loop again anytime soon, I might just need to bring a tent and come back to the overlook.... |
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