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| Hiking | 36.06 Miles |
7,776 AEG |
| | Hiking | 36.06 Miles | 1 Day 5 Hrs 11 Mns | | |
| 7,776 ft AEG | 12 Hrs 33 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This is one of those dayhikes that's usually done over two calendar days, right? 
Willow Spring #223
Sheep Bridge was weirdly quiet for Labor Day weekend. Didn't see any other vehicles or campers as I headed over the Verde an hour before sunrise. Going was annoyingly tough for the first two miles, fresh grass was covering the tread and cairns, once the sky began to lighten things were easier. The tall hills in the east kept me in the shade for much of the climb to Willow Spring #224 spur. Thought briefly about checking out the spring and didn't.
I was dreading the next thousand foot climb, given how steep it is and everything, but managed to chug through it. Hamstrings started cramping on this section and slowed me down. The green growth in the Mazzies right now looks amazing compared to the dull brown on my last June visit, the hills are downright lush. Gnats are a less welcome result of the recent rains. Watered up at the very murky Mountain Spring before slogging up the next climb towards Lost Spring.
Lost Spring #279
There is a decent tread for a few hundred yards that devolves into brush and deadfall. A few game tracks swing below the thick nasty so I followed them. Reached the spring and startled a huge elk less than twenty feet away - wonder if it's the same one I saw out here a year ago. He was busy fouling the spring so probably didn't hear me. His annoyed bugles echoed around me as I checked out the views and water source. Returned about the same way and waved good-bye to the elk and his spa.
Willow Spring #223 - continued
Steady grade through the dead forest that opened up to epic views on top. Those views included a few big monsoon clouds in the east. More on those later. Paused here for a needed break before dancing along the narrow connecting ridge to Midnight Mesa. Trail was harder to follow along the side of the mesa than I remembered. Quick drop down to the Midnight Trail junction, where I briefly thought about bailing - was running low on time and energy. Decided to push on and instantly regretted it.
Midnight #272
The few cairns did little to ease the pain of deadfall, rolling rocks, and thick brush. Once the trail enters unburnt forest things do get easier. Plus each drainage, including Wet Bottom Creek, had fresh water running. A pleasant corral next to the creek has some Fuller Seep campsite vibes. Trail changed dramatically on the north side, with wide tread and large cairns. My legs hated the climb up to Red Hills. On the way I passed some discarded camping equipment that made for an eery foreshadowing.
Red Hills #262
Drop to Wet Bottom Creek is getting downright easy. Was able to track tread and cairns the entire way down, though I chose to tumble down some sections instead of following trail. Reached the creek and it was magnificent, tons of water. While I was down here, filling up to capacity, I checked in with wifey about the weather situation - there were now three storms surrounding me, all rumbling and dark, and I really didn't want to be caught in a storm while up near 5601'. She assured me they would miss me so I hit some roctane for the haul up.
Cairns and tread were well-defined for half the climb, then deadfall and manzanita hide any trace of a trail above the 'throne'. Those storms gave me plenty of shade and cool breeze for what could have been a real slog. I hit the top just as a quick downpour caught me, just enough to convince me to haul out my poncho. The rain passed but the shade and breeze lasted for the rest for the day.
Trail was shockingly well-defined and I cruised alongside the summit of 5601', enjoying the views of Midnight Mesa and Cypress Butte. Things got a little sketchy in the drainage on the far side and I focused on speed instead of hunting cairns, zipping under the pine trees and hopping in the drainage. Did see a few stretches of tread on the banks, found them to be mostly overgrown and not worth the effort. Trail got much easier to track once it climbed up the saddle and left the drainage for good.
The sun was setting as I looped around by 4927'. Cairns got harder to find in the waning light, especially since some of the rock piles were marking old mines instead of route. Once I reached the sharp bend down to the last descent I had to stop and weigh my options. 9 miles left, 3 of them on new trail, and I was exhausted. If I pushed on I would be risking injury and for what - just so I could nod off during the drive? I still had 3L and a few snacks, might as well bivy out here.
Picked a shallow mining exploration that was about 5' by 3' and cleared it out. Collected a large stack of firewood and broke it down, then stretched poncho over half the pit. Got everything squared away inside and immediately fell sleep in a curled-up position on the rocky ground... Did I mention I was exhausted? Woke up two hours later from the cold and began the cycle: start a fire, build up to larger sticks, nod off, then wake up an hour later to a bed of coals for starting a new fire. It never really got that chilly, the fire was just enough to keep comfortable and the smoke kept the mosquitos (mostly) at bay. When I finally got up around an hour before dawn I felt surprisingly refreshed.
Initial drop from the ridge was sudden and rocky, then more mines and tailings show up to make for an easy descent on the north bank of the drainage. Quick rock-hop and a tread picks up on the south bank and makes for a very easy walk. I had some trouble following the tread after it swings south, likely due to the recent rains smoothing out the dirt, so I spent more time cairn-hunting than I wanted to. A few overgrown sections and then this trail was done.
Dutchman Grave #22
Paused at the lower spring for water and to finish off the last of my food before making one last push. The spikey trees are just as spikey as my last visit and each little climb felt harder than it should have. HK Mesa was wonderfully green. Had one good fall dropping into Sycamore Creek where a rock rolled underfoot, glad it happened within a mile of the bridge and not further out. Hobbled the rest of the way to a still-empty Sheep Bridge.
FR 269 has some deep ruts that require extra care, and the storm on 9/3 did some noticeable damage to the rockier sections (they're more rocky now).
Mazatzal Miles: 233.1/275 (85%) |
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Lost Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Two separate sources next to each other, both fouled by elk. One of them I'd consider pulling, though it'd take some patience. |
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Sycamore Creek |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | Looks great at Verde River #11 crossing. | | _____________________
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