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Cottonwood Mountain Trail #8 - 1 member in 2 triplogs has rated this an average 2 ( 1 to 5 best )
2 triplogs
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Jan 05 2020
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 Guides 1
 Routes 226
 Photos 1,675
 Triplogs 1,867

65 male
 Joined Oct 17 2008
 Phoenix, AZ
Cottonwood Mountain Trail #8Prescott, AZ
Cottonwood Mountain Trail #8
Prescott, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 05 2020
rcorfman • Triplogs 1,867
Hiking3.38 Miles 1,183 AEG
Hiking3.38 Miles   2 Hrs   30 Mns   1.69 mph
1,183 ft AEG      30 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I decided to head towards the Camp Wood area and do some geocaching. I tried to do this last September, but the Camp Wood road was closed due to the Sheridan fire. The results of which, I would see today.

I started with quick jaunt up Johnson Mountain to find a couple geocaches. Round trip was just over a mile with 282' of AEG. Most of the gain was a steep climb up talus. Once on top, it was the typical rocky mesa but with muddy ground from patches of melting snow. The fire had crossed the mountain but the two caches were spared. Fire reached within feet of the first one but the area around the second was not burned. At the second, there was a great view of the snow covered San Francisco Peaks.

Next was the hike up Cottonwood Mountain. Most of it was along trail #8. The trail is getting overgrown at the start, but after about a quarter mile, the Sheridan fire passed through and burned the slopes of the mountain. I followed the trail close to where it crosses a saddle then turned up to the top. The mesa is surrounded by cliffs, so I headed roughly to the center of the south side where there was an easy way to the top. Those more adventurous should be able to get up top farther to the west. The mesa was burnt too so it was easy to get to where the cache was hidden. The vantage was great and it was interesting to see where the Sheridan fire burned. It was windy and a bit cold on the edge so I put my wind jacket on. After a few minutes searching, I found it, then headed back to the truck.
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Go find a LonelyCache
  1 archive
Aug 24 2014
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 Guides 94
 Routes 840
 Photos 22,055
 Triplogs 1,993

52 male
 Joined Sep 18 2002
 Tempe, AZ
Merritt Cottonwood Loop, AZ 
Merritt Cottonwood Loop, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Aug 24 2014
chumley • Triplogs 1,993
Hiking4.84 Miles 622 AEG
Hiking4.84 Miles   1 Hour   52 Mns   2.99 mph
622 ft AEG      15 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Merritt Spring Trail #9
Cottonwood Mountain Trail #8
Partners none no partners
After a long hike Saturday, I wanted to get a few easier miles in to start Sunday before doing a little Hazfest reconnaissance. This short loop that linked two trails with a short road hike between them looked great.

I was absolutely stunned at the unending views from the high points on Merritt Spring Trail. It might have helped that the weather was perfect, with puffy white clouds dotting the sky, and providing frequent relief from the sun. This would be an oven on a sunny summer afternoon.

On 705 I took the road less traveled to be closer to the pines in the creek bottom and it turned out to be a bad move. Stick to the road for quicker moving and comfortable non-soccer-ball-rocks under your feet.

Passed by a couple of other trail junctions I'd like to explore in the future before visiting the old Cement Trough Spring. Nice old stone spring box here that isn't in use anymore.

Took Cottonwood Mountain #8 back up to CR68. I saw a deer, and with the bow season having just started, I caught a glimpse of three hunters that were following it. I was in full bumblebob gear, but somehow managed to walk to within 3 feet of the hunters unseen and unheard. I apologetically asked if I had interfered with their hunt, and only then realized that they had not seen the deer that I had seen -- when all were in my view at the same time! I had to laugh at their ineptitude. These three were decked out head to toe in camouflage, including full face masks! I'm pretty sure I know who went home empty handed!

Oh anyway, amusing end to an easy loop. I was back at the trailhead a few minutes later!
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Trail Signs and Markings
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Cement Trough Spring  Hyde Creek Mountain  Merritt Spring

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water less than maxwater less than max Cement Trough Spring Quart per minute Quart per minute
Historical stone springbox is dry, but modern box is full of water and had a light flow.

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Merritt Spring Dripping Dripping
This is just a seep with some muddy pools of water in the grass. Historical locations have dried up and it appears the water now surfaces in different spots than in years past. All within a 100 yard radius.
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I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.
  1 archive
average hiking speed 2.34 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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