|
| | | General Crook Trail V62-V71, AZ | | | |
|
|
General Crook Trail V62-V71, AZ
| | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 11.43 Miles |
314 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.43 Miles | 4 Hrs 23 Mns | | 2.61 mph |
| 314 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Driving in on Rim Rd., there was little construction activity, so no real delay. (At least not on Tuesday.) Turning south at the FR 34 intersection, the way was blocked by some “nearby fire” signs. (Presumably for the Pius Fire, which was well north.) I turned around, and decided to try FR 9354 instead. FR 9354 was not bad at all and, better yet had no signs blocking my way further west on Rim Rd.
It took me a minute to figure out where the trail continued east of FR 208L, as it was hidden behind a small pile of brush, and the carsonite sign had fallen over. After that, and all the way to V71, the trail was clearly defined. I did briefly miss a few turns, but that was my fault, as I was scanning the surrounding terrain for mile markers and other interesting things.
I found my first mile marker, V63, exactly where previously indicated. It was quite a relief from the confusion of the prior segment. V63 gave me a known point to measure from. V64 should be a mile ahead, give or take a 50-100 feet. (Neither the U.S. Cavalry, nor the Boy Scouts, having had access to GPS.) It wasn’t.
V64 was where it was previously indicated, but it was only ¾ mile beyond V63, not quite two miles into this segment. On the left, just past FR 9350C, there is a sinkhole covered with bracken fern, and ringed by a rocky caldera. Like much of the previous mile, it’s shady.
At the southern tip of the Hole-in-Ground meadow, I found V65 — a full 1¾ miles from V64. And 2½ miles from V63. Egads. At least I was enjoying my hike. 
After Carr Lake TH, I crossed newly paved Rim Rd., “Speed Limit 25”. LOL. Sure. Double that with the new pavement. Play Frogger on holiday weekends! 
On the far side of Rim Rd., I started finding double chevrons -- one the normal cream, the other orange. According to a sign, orange marks the “preferred travel” route, while cream marks the “original” route. (I assume original Boy Scout route, not General Crook, as the terrain choices don’t make tactical or 19th century transportation technology sense.) Other than near Baker Lake, I’ve only ever seen cream-colored chevrons.
The previously indicated location of V69 was 5½ miles into this segment. I spent 15 fruitless minutes searching for it. I actually found V69 at the 7⅔ mile mark, 200 ft. off trail. V65 is precisely four miles prior to V69 — which is itself exactly one mile before V70. Therefore, I believe V65 is in the correct location, while V64 and V63 are mis-measured. I never did spot V66, V67 or V68. 
East of Woods Canyon Rd., the trail frequently crisscrosses FR 9300. There were several sections of exposed bedrock, but I never saw any wagon ruts. I passed by three fenced enclosures, presumably for aspen protection. The first was full of dead trees. I found V71 where previously indicated, one mile on the dot from V70. Rim Top Trailhead, and its nasty pit toilets, were 250 yds. east.
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v56wttt-hiking-gener ... 2-v71.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/983852787 |
|
Wildflowers Observation Light
Besides the ones in the photoset: red & yellow pea, coneflower. Low quantity; wide variety. |
|
| _____________________
| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
— minutes. Three times vehicles were waved east before our westboound traffic was allowed to move. There was some very aggressive driving heading towards Payson. Like Daytona, with similar speeds. I was still ballistic when I got home …
that: I’ll hike it.
Video:
) The place was sort of magical, and for most people, very un-Arizona.
