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| Hiking | 15.77 Miles |
2,471 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.77 Miles | 8 Hrs 37 Mns | | 2.03 mph |
| 2,471 ft AEG | 52 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Beautiful day for a hike! Arrived at TH at 735a to a half empty lot and 35F. Lots of frost and some ice skimming the top of shaded pools at this hour of the day. We were doing this loop clockwise to avoid having to do the steep up on terrapin later in the hike, and instead have the gradual up on Dutchman and Bluff springs. I haven't been on terrapin in quite some time. Overall, I thought it was very easy to follow. Probably the most confusing part of the whole trail was the initial uphill on terrapin right off of bluff springs. That being said, it was not too bad and there were a few cairns to help, too. Terrapin is a beautiful trail, and I love the solitude. Up until this point, we had seen a couple of guys on cardiac hill, and then a couple of women on terrapin that said they do this every week before brunch.  Shortly we came upon the junction with the crosscut trail. That trail is much more defined and used than the terrapin trail that continues on. There is also a enormous cairn. Just in case you didn't know where you are going, I guess? It's really big. Continuing on, we enjoyed the views from Terrapin pass, and soon we arrived at the junction hanging a right towards Charlebois.
This section of the loop I have never been on before (yippee!), so I was very excited. The first section right after the junction is very brushy, and we felt like we were in the jungle. . It was glorious. The trail was still easy to follow, and the trail is surrounded by vegetation for a short while. There are a few campsites in this area. Heading onwards, the brush subsides, and the canyon opens up. So very beautiful in this area! Pure superstition magic at is best!   We enjoyed the electric green of the lichen on the cliff rock face to the east. In this area there is a 10 foot section of trail that goes next to an overhanging rock which is striking. Shortly we arrived at the Bull pass junction where we met a trio of women on a day hike from their camp near charlebois Springs. They were going in the opposite direction, so after a quick hello we headed on. We passed cavalry junction, and continued down the valley passing a multitude of campsites, some very large, and all with gigantic fire rings.
The valley in this area is so beautiful. There is a small section of trail that goes up higher on the canyon wall so that you are looking down on the canyon below before before you head back onto the flat of the valley again. More campsites everywhere. We met a very large group of young backpackers who appeared to just have broken camp, and they were assembled on either side of the trail getting ready to head out. There were probably 20 or so of them (!). As we headed towards them, they moved off the trail slightly to give us room to pass, and then they decided to do a human tunnel in kids sports fashion, complete with hooting and hollering!  Absolutely hilarious! I can honestly say that this is a unique and new wilderness experience for me! I have never once gone through a human tunnel in the wilderness. It was nice to see smiling young people enjoying the wilderness and in such good spirits! .
Continuing on, we were shortly at the canyon where charlebois springs is, though we didn't realize it. There is no real obvious trail that we saw leading up to it, but to be fair we weren't really looking. I thought it would be evident, but we walked right by. When we hit the Peters trail junction, we knew we had walked right by the springs spur. We decided not to go back as this hike is a long one (for me anyway, I see some people hike 25 miles in a day, but I do not.   ). Instead, we took a break at the high point just past the junction and had a quick snack. And then we were off again onward from the halfway point of our hike.
This section of trail on either side of music canyon has some areas where the trail gets lost for a few feet here and there, especially when crossing the wash. This being said, the trail itself is larger and well defined, you just have to take a quick look around to make sure you are on it. This area is beautiful with large cottonwoods. As you approach from the junction you can see several large cottonwoods in the canyon. They were a glorious gold color. The trail goes through a short section that is actually very wooded and enclosed which is glorious. In short order, we were at the red tanks junction and back on trail familiar to me.
We cruised along passing the bluff spring area. I should mention that up until this point, there were lots of pools of standing water here and there, and the ground was often wet though not so much to be truly muddy.
We came to the bluff spring/Dutchman junction, and headed west into the bluff spring canyon area. This area along the canyon was truly beautiful with running water (just a trickle really, but enough to make a beautiful sound) and lots of pools. At this point we started seeing people again after seeing no one since the cheering tunnel. Saw the same group of 3 women backpackers from the bull pen junction continuing their loop along with another trio of backpackers just starting out. Soon enough we passed the terrapin junction, and we were on the home stretch! 
Pretty uneventful at this point. Starting seeing a few more people here and there. We passed the cave trail junction which is well defined. On this entire loop every official trail junction was signed. The only two junctions not signed are cave and weavers crosscut.
We continued on, made it down cardiac hill, and back to the Trailhead. Another successful hike on the books! What a great way to spend a day! I love being in the more remote areas of the supes. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
The crosscut trail was super easy to find and is well defined the entire length from terrapin to Peralta. Follow the cairns when descending to Peralta and also use 
. Started up my always favorite Cardiac Hill and made our way down to Barks Canyon. There were a couple of smaller pools there and that would be the only water we would see all day, everything else was dried up. I have never seen so much grass in Barks. The Foxtails and Buffel grass at times were chest high and without gaiters, were a real pain for my shoes and socks. We headed up Terrapin and made the turn up to the first saddle on the Crosscut. While a little rocky and steep this section of the trail was in great shape and easy to follow. Once in the canyon past the first saddle the trail became hit and miss with the grass hiding a good amount of it. Once at the top of the second saddle we took a break which gave me a chance to clean the foxtails out of my shoes and socks. Once past the second saddle, it was steep and slippery but carins directed us down to East Boulder Canyon. We came upon our first person of the day as we neared the Peralta Trail junction. A solo hiker looking for a way to get closer to Weavers Needle. We directed her to the carins marking the way up for the climbers and she continued on. Once we were in East Boulder Canyon the winds picked up which made for a nicer climb up to Freemont Saddle. The hike from the saddle was long and hot, it seemed to drag on for forever. Saw a couple of people up on the saddle and a couple others coming up but the crowd was much thinner with the hotter temps. Thanks Andy for the invite to this one.
). Instead, we took a break at the high point just past the junction and had a quick snack. And then we were off again onward from the halfway point of our hike. 
