|
| | | AZT #19 - FR 1080 Combo, AZ | | | |
|
|
AZT #19 - FR 1080 Combo, AZ
| | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 11.30 Miles |
2,979 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.30 Miles | 5 Hrs 36 Mns | | 2.11 mph |
| 2,979 ft AEG | 15 Mns Break | 25 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | Although the Jeep has been repaired (radiator split at 188/288 junction ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") on the return from our weekend in the Sierra Ancha), Tracey wanted to hike somewhere that we could drive to with her Honda Fit. 
So, thinking how nice the Three Bar Road was last time out this way the plan was to start our hike from Mills TH on AZT#20 and do an out-and-back to Black Bear Saddle. So much for plans... as we get to the turn for Three Bar Road, we realized it did NOT go to Mills TH, that would be Forest Road 429 instead, which the Fit would not like!
Ok, having loaded HAZ Tracks only with the route we planned on, what do we do? With the warmer weather Tracey wanted something at a higher elevation. Not much around here the Fit would take us... so we though, ok, let's tray AZT#19 heading south. No nice HAZ Tracks map to go by (not that we expected to need one) so I made sure to bring the GPS along. Good thing I did.
The number of ups & downs along the first part of the trail did not make a good impression... we simply wanted higher elevation sooner for hopefully a little cooler temps. So enough of this! We cut across a ridge and connected with Forest Road 1080 and headed up toward Deer Hill. Having driven past Deer Hill on my Pinyon Mountain hike last year from Apache Trail on FR49 (a VERY nasty road) I figured we might as well check the condition of FR1080 (which connects to FR49) and see how it compares. Lots of rocks on the climbs, but nowhere near the exposure of several parts like FR49 was.
As we continued on FR1080 we came upon a Case excavator equipped with a boring drill which had tipped over onto the back of a truck. There were two men removing hydraulic hoses from the excavator arm, in preparation to remove the arm before attempting to right the machine. We found out they had bored three holes and had installed new poles. Afterward they drove the excavator back down the steep slope safely, only for it to tip over when part of the road gave way. Quite unexpected, of course.
After a quick chat and a few photos we continued our climb on FR1080 up to the intersection with FR49, on to FR341 where we turned east. At the saddle looking at Deer Hill we had our lunch... under the scrutiny of a herd of cattle. I may have stared down a few of them, but others NEVER turned away the whole time.
Lunch over with, we continued down FR341 to Cottonwood Creek where it merged with AZT#19, followed the two for three miles until connecting back with FR1080 then turning of where AZT#19 split from FR341. Again, enough with the excess amount of WAY down then WAY up etc., so at the Cemetery Trail we bailed out to check out the cemetery. From there we cut straight over to AZ 188 and followed along the shoulder the mile-or-so back to whee we parked, east of the bridge, not west at the AZT#20 TH.
Pretty warm day, lots of AEG and more than enough miles as Tracey has been run pretty ragged lately. Shhhh... she's recovering from removal of a cancerous thyroid a few weeks ago.
Sorry, no videos this trip... but I have unfinished business in the area (un-bagged peaks) and this was a good recon so I will be back soon. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
