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| Hiking | 7.98 Miles |
1,434 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.98 Miles | 3 Hrs 5 Mns | | 2.59 mph |
| 1,434 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | We had moved on to Laughlin for a few days, but that was close enough to allow me to get another hike in Kingman. Today I was able to do the Badger Trail, another trail in the Cerbat Trail System. This TH is not very well marked and I missed it the first time. It’s right off of I-93, so you need to have your blinkers on early to let the traffic speeding behind you that you’re turning. The TH is very minimal. Parking for about 8 cars and a trail map. Got on the trail a little before 6am.
The trail is easy to follow. A solid single track that rises gradually along the mountain slope. For the first mile the trail provides a “great” view of I-93 as it rumbles past. Around 1.25 miles you reach a bench that provides your first look to the interior valley that the trail will play in for next 2 miles. The trail continues to gradually climb the interior flank of the same mountain. The climb varied from mild to moderate and the moderate sections were for short periods. At 2.05 there was a split in the trail. Annoying. It was unsigned, but I’m fairly sure it was the juncture for the Sidewinder Trail. On the map at the TH, this was the only trail that tied into the Badger Trail. I knew the Badger gained elevation so I continued on the one that climbed. The views were fairly limited to the valley you were climbing and towards Monolith Garden. The trail ended when it junctured with the Castle Rock Trail. I was surprised that the views were not better. The views were ok, but I feel the views I got from the Foothills Rim Trail were much better. The trail ends, still sandwiched between higher elevation with just windows in limited directions. It did provide a nice view of Monolith Gardens where I had hiked the day before.
At the TH the map indicated that the end of the Castle Rock Trail was a photo op. Where the Badger meets Castle Rock, there was a sign saying that the end of the trail (and the photo op), was only .6 miles away. Not sure when I would be back in the area I decided to check it out. The trail to the photo op was easy. A little narrow at times, but flat and in the shade for my early morning hike. The trail ended between high points. Once again, not impressed. I suppose, if one was inclined you could scramble through the rocky brush. I was not. The views of Castle Rock from a distance seemed more impressive. Returned the way I came.
Nice workout hike. The trail was a steady up, but not overly challenging. A nice potential loop with Sidewinder and Castle Rock. Minimal wildlife. Cows and a rosy boa. Met one hiker as I was returning. A transplant from Vegas, named Pepe, who hikes every day. We talked for a brief time. He noticed my Grand Canyon shirt and mentioned how he had done R2R2R for his 71st birthday.  I would be happy to do the Rim Trail at that age.  |
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