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| | | Echo Loop Inspiration & Massai Points, AZ | | | |
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Echo Loop Inspiration & Massai Points, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.60 Miles |
1,463 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.60 Miles | 4 Hrs 1 Min | | 1.89 mph |
| 1,463 ft AEG | | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Day three of four in SE AZ.
This, our first hike on our second day in the Chiricahua National Monument, will be the longest in mileage and time as well as the most AEG of all 6 hikes we will do on this trip to SE AZ. While it was expected to require the most effort, in the end it didn't feel like it at all. And even for the effort we put forth, it returned a very enjoyable hike including a wider variety of scenery than we'd encountered in the Chiricahua or Dragoon Mountains.
We had such an easy descent the first half-mile down Echo Canyon I didn't experience the usual hip joint pain and by time we hit the steeper descent I had loosened up enough as long as I was careful on the larger step-downs things went well.
Just past the grottoes we caught up to a recently retired couple from South Carolina taking their first trip to AZ in years, and possibly thinking about moving 'back here' as they were originally from Arizona and moved to SC some 2 dozen years ago. Once the pleasantries were exchanged we moved on.
When we reached the sign denoting 'Echo Canyon' (at the confluence of Sarah Deming, Rhyolite and Echo Canyons) I loudly yelled 'Hello' which got a quick response from Tracey of 'what are you yelling for?' To which I responded, what is the point of an echo canyon if one doesn't take advantage of it... at least to verify it is worthy of the name.
Moving on, after 'turning the corner' we headed up Upper Rhyolite Canyon, connecting with the Hailstone Trail which we will follow until the junction with Ed Riggs and Mushroom Rock Trails. At that point we continued up Mushroom Rock Trail until reaching the Mushroom Rock, Inspiration Point and Big Balanced Rock Trails junction. From there we did a round-trip to Inspiration Point... which was a slight let-down in more ways than one. First, after experiencing so much of the park already no particular 'inspiration' came to mind. Second, due to all the rock spires there was no single point where one could see directly down into the canyons below. Sure one could look ACROSS the canyons, of which the views were scenic.
Once back on the Mushroom Rock Trail we had a reasonably easy descent in preparation for the steep ascent up Ed Riggs Trail to our planned turn at the Massai Point Trail. Once we reached that junction, we took a few moments to decide whether to head over to Massai Point or continue up to the Echo Canyon trailhead. Thinking the route to Massai Point was a simple 'around the contour' we chose it. And then of course it turned out to be a 200' climb to the Exhibit Building.
At the Exhibit Building we took the time to read all the various panels covering geological and human history.
Decision time again:
#1. Back DOWN Massai Trail to experience the steep ascent up the end of Ed Riggs Trail to Echo Canyon TH.
#2. Short road-walk to Echo Canyon TH.
Since we were about to eat lunch at the car before tackling Sugarloaf Mountain, it was an easy decision... we've had enough AEG for this hike so we went with #2.
Ambient Temps: 64-75°
HR Avg/Max = 95/133 |
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