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| Hiking | 7.21 Miles |
832 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.21 Miles | 2 Hrs 32 Mns | | 2.85 mph |
| 832 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Marcus Landslide Trail is only 4.0 miles, 600 ft. accumulated elevation gain (AEG), out & back, from the Tom’s Thumb trailhead. To justify the hour-long drive to north Scottsdale, I planned to also hike the Rock Knob Trail, part of the Pemberton Trail, and the Boulder Trail, for an extra 2½ miles.
There were quite a few cars at the Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, but foot traffic was pleasantly light all day. Maybe because it was Christmas week.  
Wide & smooth, Rock Knob Trail would be fun to blast down on a mountain bike. Rock Knob is a small hill festooned with boulders and surrounded by plenty of cholla.
Until today, I’d never been on Pemberton Trail, but my impression is it is similar in length, and relative ease, to the Butterfield-Pedersen-Coldwater Loop in the Estrella Mountains. I hiked on south Pemberton Trail for only 1¼ miles, 150 ft. downhill. The first ¼ mile was rocky, but not a problem for hiking.
Boulder Trail climbs 260 ft. in a hair over a mile, to Marcus Landslide Trail. The vegetation was scrubbier than on Pemberton Trail, with at least one acacia providing shade, in an otherwise mostly exposed loop. The slidemass -- explained at [ photo ] -- was visible as a long 30 ft. high mound to my left.
I was hoping there was a bench on Boulder Trail, so I could stop for a snack & water swap, but no such luck. I settled for plopping down on the ground. I was thirstier than would be expected for the moderate temperature. Humidity must have been low, despite the looming storm.
I actually took the time to read all the interpretive signs I encountered, including at the junction of Boulder Trail and Marcus Landslide Trail. Right is back to Tom’s Thumb Trailhead; left is the Marcus Landslide Loop. Don’t skip it! The loop is the highlight of this hike.
There’s a large boulder on the left, about halfway up the Marcus Landslide Loop. But it was a mere pebble to Submarine Rock, at the “far” end of the loop. There’s a number of Interpretive Points, which are 50 yd. diversions of the main loop. The first of these gave a good downslope view of the slidemass, which flowed a mile east.
After marvelling at the shear size of Submarine Rock, I stopped for a second break. I could see Weavers Needle, Four Peaks, Mount Ord and, closer by, Granite Mountain and Brown’s Mountain. I sure could have used more substantial hiking food than gorp. At least a murderwich from the Stop’n’Rob.  
After enjoying Marcus Landslide Loop, I booked it back to the Tom’s Thumb Trailhead, only briefly pausing to check out a few more mushroom rocks, including Fallen Mushroom. (Where the top-heavy shroomy part finally separated from its base.) Merry Christmas & Happy New Year’s!
Hiking Video: https://vimeo.com/660398704 |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Chuparosa here & there along Boulder Trail, as the day warmed up. Quite surprising! |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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