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| Hiking | 7.60 Miles |
1,970 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.60 Miles | 4 Hrs 27 Mns | | 2.09 mph |
| 1,970 ft AEG | 49 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Since Friday's hike went further than planned, I opted to make today easier than a Sunday hike would normally be. Interestingly, it turned out to be the first day I felt any of the benefits of my training! Heart rate was low on the steep climbs... legs were energized... all of the hiking felt effortless. I had not felt any of those aspects in a very long time!
I decided to loop the real Roundup Grounds... someone last year had asked me if I'd done that, and I had to admit I'd never ventured out towards those points north of the forest trail; today would be the day.
The up/down to the saddle above Deadman Canyon gives you a nice 1600'+ hit, much of it very steep... above the 1000' per mile mark. Once on top, the plateau is soft walking, and very nice. Gazing over the east side cliffs I noticed a game trail... a really well developed game trail down below on a bench above the bottom of Alamo Canyon. It peaked my interest; the other day I'd spotted an old road cut from the bottom of the canyon heading up into what I thought was the same side canyon cut the trail was heading for. It needed to be checked out.
I noted the likely elevation for the trail, then wandered around the plateau some more, eventually heading down the upper part of the T107... The connection was obvious once I was looking for it. Where T107 left Roundup Canyon and wound around and over, to drop down into a gully... that was the place to not drop, but instead to cross the gully and move up and around the obvious use trail.
It clung to the cliff top edge (often too close!!!) and remained a clear trail. I suspected a water source deadend around in the canyon where I thought the old road cut might join this route. I was wrong. No water. That meant this trail went somewhere... likely the canyon bottom...?
It continued to wind around then further around. I was getting a great canyon overview where I normally have to slog river bottom for miles... this was great! And, it continued all the way around to the west side of the Plateau... reconnecting with the Forest Trail 107... but the last few hundred yards were without trail. The bench had widened out to a broad shelf at that point, and the game had diffused their patterns. So, this lower connection was effectively hidden; no specific trail intersection! Very Nice.
All in all, a great morning hike... this new trail section is a great addition to the hikes for the area, with unique trail qualities. Guess I have to decide if/when to show it to the local club hikers...
The route also illustrated, finally, a good route up to Pyramid Peak. Looking directly cross canyon I spotted a game trail heading up to easily connect to that ridge. So, Pyramid can now be a destination hike instead of a peak in passing from the usual higher routes. No one likes the pipeline so the peak rarely comes into play. It can now!
really good day! |
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| Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is... |
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