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| Hiking | 1.13 Miles |
368 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.13 Miles | 2 Hrs 45 Mns | | 0.41 mph |
| 368 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | In addition to the short walk, I logged 4 miles of flatwater paddling on the "lake".
Bruce lucked out by somehow declining to join on this one despite the obvious benefits someone of his advanced age and questionable calf measurements could gain from an adventure such as this.
As it turned out, what is regularly my favorite central Arizona lake was nothing but misery today. The level is about 8-feet low, which isn't great, but is easily overcome on a lake this size. Starting at the head of the lake, however, makes for really shallow water and quicksand mud shorelines. Thankfully, my buoyant calves kept me from sinking thigh deep before managing to get on my board.
While prepping on shore, I was relentlessly pelted by nasty biting flies (horseflies?) that would not leave me alone. I wasn't prepared for this onslaught. Shouldn't the fish eat these beasts?
Oh, no. Not this year. There are no fish. The lake is a cauldron of death. An algae bloom was in full swing, and while I floated easily across the surface, there was absolutely no option for a refreshing swim. 
I held out hope that as I made my way north the condition would improve with the deeper and cooler water near the dam. That was not to be. It only got worse. I gave up before the dam, turning back between large floating algaebergs that now began to give off an odor that would make your average FS pit toilet site a delightful reprieve. (Thankfully the rest of the lake was odor free).
Nearby rain showers cleared as the afternoon progressed and a light breeze made the 87 degree temp feel like the 70s.
The 3.5 miles of road to the trailhead is as miserable as ever. I wish there had been more rain this summer, but when that road gets muddy and puddled it's almost impassable, so the dry conditions were ok for this purpose.
Stopped by Bear Canyon on the way out for a twilight swim to fully cleanse any residual toxicity I might have picked up on the day.
I don't know how long a bloom lasts, but I wouldn't waste your time visiting this lake for at least a few weeks. |
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
Arrived at the end of FR180 and there were already folks camping at the best spot (Right on the edge of the canyon. 
So we made do at an adjacent spot and embarked on a great weekend filled with tents, hammocks, hikes, kayak, rock jumping and some Rye and cigars once jr. went to sleep! 
that is FR180 (I swear they are trying to make it impossible to get there!) I did a quick out n back to the lake. There were two people camped at the bottom and I think they were the guys Jackie and Lee spotted the day before. Just a guess though. 
