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Pipe Springs Spur Trail - 1 member in 3 triplogs has rated this an average 2 ( 1 to 5 best )
3 triplogs
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Feb 26 2016
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 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Pipe Springs Spur TrailSoutheast, NM
Southeast, NM
Canyoneering avatar Feb 26 2016
imikeTriplogs 2,467
Canyoneering10.70 Miles 1,950 AEG
Canyoneering10.70 Miles
1,950 ft AEG
Basic Canyoneering - Scrambling; easy climbing/downclimbing; frequent hand use; rope recommended; easy exit
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Mary cancelled...so, did this easier semi. Exploratory hike...rescheduled purgatory for a later day. Ross, William and Will along. Bagged Pyramid peak and explored Pipe springs canyon. It was good... May not use the trail much anymore... Canyon full of bedrock down to the tank. Roundup cliffs trail showing heavier use...it is going to get really popular.
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Apr 26 2014
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 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Alamo Peak LoopSoutheast, NM
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Apr 26 2014
imikeTriplogs 2,467
Hiking25.20 Miles 7,600 AEG
Hiking25.20 Miles   12 Hrs   21 Mns   2.39 mph
7,600 ft AEG   1 Hour   49 Mns Break
 no routesno photosets
First of the longer, progressive Saturday training hikes over and done!

Though posted on the Meetup.com Calendar, this is not one of the hikes I really want anyone to show up for. If they are in shape and trained up I am probably going at a too slow pace to be of much benefit to them. If they are not trained up enough to be ready for this level of effort it will not turn out well for anyone.

I noticed that today I hit the peak well before the time typical with other hikers along... and I'd altered the route early in the day to add on extra AEG before the push to the peak. So, over an hour early and with an extra 1200'+ already scored.

I had rushed the prep for the hike. I did not pack any food. I decanted a gallon of non-fat chocolate milk, a quart of vitamin water and 16 oz 80 calorie energy drink. I was guessing at an 11 hour effort with 200 calorie an hour intake to catalyze fat metabolism... sort of a plan.

Not exactly an early start, but with the longer days I felt okay with that. I hit the trail at 6:38am. Around 7:30 I popped open the Energy drink to break fast (a couple hours early for me!)

Slow pace... lower energy.

I noticed that once I'd begun drinking I was tending towards a fairly steady intake; I refilled one of the Quart containers at the high spring below the peak.

Early to the peak I wandered off trail and found a place in the sun and out of most of the wind (high gusts today! 40 mph!) I realized I needed to slow my pace; get into a more casual mindset for the day, so I dug to the bottom of the pack and pulled out a MRE and a bottle of spicy peanuts. I took the time to enjoy the food pack (... the 1200 calories were likely not a bad idea, either. That and the 500+ calories from the peanuts likely made sense on this longer/harder day.)

I decided to loop longer, kicking off this series with 25 miles and 7000'. The next effort will go to 30 miles with at least as much AEG. The time and mileage is the emphasis for the coming months; every other Saturday.

Fluids did run out. I also was worrying about potassium intake (... brain dead! forgot the milk would score over 6,000! I cramp up in the evening after the hike if fluid/potassium intakes have been too low).

So, home sucking down an additional half gallon of vitamin water... listening to the wind howl.

A good day!

Odd to reflect on the perspective of being "in shape". I feel i have a long way to go to reach that condition. I'm still 20 pounds away from hitting event weight. All my training is at a too slow pace. I'm probably two months away from being able to do a fifty mile day with any ease. At age 50 I went out without training and did 53 miles in 11 hours and 20 minutes. That day included 8,000' AEG. At age 60 I managed a 50 mile day with 19,000' AEG...by either of those standards I am not yet back in good shape. Then again... by most everyone else's standard, for age 65 I should be more than happy with what I've can do. So Odd.

Good Pictures today... new computer on the way... finally might be able to catch up with the editing and posting?
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
May 01 2013
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 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Pyramid Peak via Pipe Springs, NM 
Pyramid Peak via Pipe Springs, NM
 
Hiking avatar May 01 2013
imikeTriplogs 2,467
Hiking13.90 Miles 3,190 AEG
Hiking13.90 Miles   7 Hrs   45 Mns   2.19 mph
3,190 ft AEG   1 Hour   25 Mns Break
 no routes
1st trip
Wednesday... the day to meet up with hiking partners to enjoy "A" trail. Today I thought it would go to Ortega Peak, but Terri canceled out. I still headed up at 6am, but instead of continuing to the top I looped back down to see if Unchip might show up at her old time. Another no show. Instead of heading back up the hill, I decided to head over to Alamo Canyon and redo Roundup Cliffs from the lower trailhead, then see if there really was a good route up to Pyramid Peak.

It was an interesting day. I made sure I had enough fluids along (did not want a repeat of last Friday!) 168 oz... should do the job.

The cliffs portion was great... I took the time to more carefully document the various highpoints and to document the side canyons flowing into Alamo Canyon (more exploratory hikes to do!) I think I'll add the Cliffs trail into my maintenance schedule... it is a great route; nice to have some of the trail slightly improved.

Dropping down into the upper portion of Alamo Canyon I crossed up to the bench where Lower Pipe Springs flowed. I waded through the cattle... and once at the tank began to look up canyon for the game trail I'd spotted last week. My eye caught on a cattle track moving around and out of the canyon, but with an upward angle. Checking it out, I discovered it did go up... instead of steeply climbing towards the cliffs like the game trail in the canyon, it gave a softer loop around and out of the canyon, then over and back into the canyon... above the cliffs! It was an easy walk into the canyon proper, then across and out the other side. Once onto the lower ridge slopes I intersected the water pipe that carried flow from Upper Pipe Springs down to Lower Pipe Springs. The route became very easy from that point on: follow the ABS pipe!

At the springs I intersected the roadway that is Aquaduct Ridge Trail... and took it over to Pyramid Peak. On top of the peak I enjoyed the panoramic views... and took ten shots with my camera that together would form a 360 presentation.

So... there was a good route to the Ridge... and it did start where I thought after spotting the game trail... it simply was not what I thought it would be... it was better.

I looped back to the truck along the bottom of Alamo Canyon... shooting pictures of the mouths of all the side canyons... thinking about hitting each of those over the coming month. It just stays good.

Drank all of the fluids plus another 75 oz once back home!

GPS Stuff:

T104 Trailhead...(4650')
.64 mile T107 Trailhead (4836')
1.08 mile Roundup Cliff Bench (5162')
1.40 mile Falls (5285')
2.34 mile T103/T104 (5510')
2.80 mile High point (5546')
2.94 mile High point (5581')
3.00 mile T107/Cliffs (5550')
3.29 mile T107 Trailhead (5364')
3.35 mile Lower Pipeline Springs (5390')
3.86 mile Upper Pipeline Springs (5690')
4.45 mile Pyramid Peak (6140')
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Ocotillo
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Cairn
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
average hiking speed 2.29 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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