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| Hiking | 5.83 Miles |
1,059 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.83 Miles | 2 Hrs 28 Mns | | 2.36 mph |
| 1,059 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | @prescottstyle & I started hiking from the Metate Trailhead, near Granite Basin Lake, at 8:25 a.m. It was a bit confusing at the start, as we first started down a wash marked with blue ribbons, and marked on the topo as “FR 374C”. Then we went past a row of boulders, starting up Granite Mountain Trail #261. Then I spotted the Clark Spring Trail #40 sign, on the right side of the trail, rather than on the left where the trail actually goes. Eh. Only lost a few minutes. No big. 
Clark Spring Trail #40 climbs 700 ft. in the next two miles. The first mile has spot shade, but is mostly exposed. The next ¾ of a mile, switchbacks through shadey pine, oak and juniper. Two of the juniper — one living, one dead — are massive. (Though not as large as the Granite Mountain Hotshots juniper.) The final ¼ mile to the Granite Mountain Wilderness boundary gate is exposed, as is the rest of the climb to the summit of Little Granite Mountain.
The Clark Spring Trail #40 switchbacks do not do much to slow down mountain bikes bombing down the trail, so keep your head up, and your ears open. Besides two MTBs, we also encountered a couple and their pair of friendly dogs. We chatted with them for a few minutes, and it turned out they were the folks who maintained Trail #40, which they said had been rough and overgrown just a few months ago. Now, the trail is in great shape! 
At the wilderness boundary gate, Paul realized one of the bolts was falling out of the trail sign. The washer and nut were still in the back of the sign, so I screwed them back on as tight as I could, squeezing my fat fingertips into the small hole.
We turned north on Little Granite Mountain Trail #37.
From the gate, Little Granite Mountain Trail #37 climbs 100 ft. in a ¼ mile to the top of a spur. If you continue on Trail #37, it descends 700 ft. in 1½ miles to Upper Pasture Trail #38. Instead, at the spur, turn right, off trail up the spur. In 100 yds. is a barb wire fence. I suppose we could have stayed on the east side of the boundary gate, and followed the fence up, but Paul & I did not.
We arrived at the fence just after 10:00 a.m. It was already quite toasty. Paul had been under the impression we were doing the Little Granite Mountain Loop again, not a summit. Combined with the temperature being higher than expected, he was low on water. Rather than cause a heat injury, I suggested we bail. 
On the way back down, heavy clouds started coming in. The two rain drops I felt were no relief from the heat. It was already 90℉, heading for 95 at 3:00 p.m., when Paul & I got back to the Metate Trailhead at noon. Rehydration commenced soon thereafter at La Casa Prescottstyle. 
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/466859410 |
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We were all pretty ready to be down from there quickly. I couldn't believe the summit was already swarming with ladybugs-- seems early. Lily did really well-- though I wouldn't recommend taking dogs up to the true summit. She loves that kind of climbing but had to find a couple work-arounds on the way down (she never needed to be picked up lowered). Even though she's done more mileage and almost double that aeg in a day-- I would consider this the most challenging hike she's done. It was my first time doing the Little Granite Mtn Loop and that was really enjoyable 
