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| | | Park Creek Canyon to Reynold's TH, AZ | | | |
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Park Creek Canyon to Reynold's TH, AZ
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| no partners | | Sierra Ancha Creek Bagging Day 4 of 4 - Exit
Well, those falls were quite nice, and it'd be a shame to only see them above eh? The morning before we saw a tree filled gully (33.90496, -111.01893) that was probably a coin toss for being passable filled in by erosion or having a cliff out half way down. With everything packed up, we left our packs on a tree and checked out it. Kept skiers right along the wall coming down (you can improv the top and bottom fine) we dropped into some lichen covered talus above waters edge. After some short but brutal bush bashing, we were right across from yet another amazing waterfall grotto. Well worth the blood price to get there.
Back up the way we came, and onto what could be slimy clay hell road back was actually muddy but fine. Between lingering snow, rocks, and duff it was soggy but never an inch of clay clinging to the bottom of the boot and we made good time.
Good enough time that I busted out my Gomboy 210 and limbed some obstructing branches, cleared some catclaw, and got rid of some of the deadfall on the trail. Probably still a dozen or so trees, but they're easy to step over. Cleared two areas that were causing bypasses and lifted a lot of lotting limbs and trunks off the path. Whew. #55 is a mellow rolling trail through mixed pine and oak that made for a nice wind down vibe.
The trailhead was a muddy mess as all the snow in it had melted, and we were glad to have M+S tires and AWD to get back onto 288. 288 itself was far simpler than when we came in and had dried out aside from a few spots above Sawmill Dispersed.
Routefinding on #55 Notes:
When the trail turns 90 from E/W to N/S bordering the ranch, cut off of it into forest for the creek the feeds into McFadden, then take the creek back down the trail (or go up the creek and then hang a right if entering). We tried following it on the way up, got lost, and thrashed through berry bramble. This bypass is far better until the bramble gets lopped.
The first creek crossing from Reynolds TH has been cleared fairly recently on the east side. We got off route on the west side after crossing (went high when the path follows alongside some bramble) so did some quick limbing and sawing so that's a bit clearer and should look like a path now. The trail sort of does a 180 a few steps after crossing at some small trees.
Heading out we came across the signed TH, which is at 33.87458, -110.97708. Past it are some dirt roads with fire rings, then finally a closed to vehicle traffic path (which had the sign run over) that pops you onto the side of 288 at 33.87305, -110.97491 with another closed to vehicles for restoration sign right next to the creek. A short walk along the road saves you from having to jump the barbed wire into the campground, ford the creek, then look for the trail if you start from the Reynold's Creek TH like us. The proper Circle Ranch TH is described on the HAZ #55 page. |
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