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| Hiking | 9.86 Miles |
2,010 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.86 Miles | 4 Hrs 7 Mns | | 2.40 mph |
| 2,010 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | |  for climb from FR 1058 to second saddle
I could have hiked this Maricopa Trail segment last fall, after the summer temps moderated, but I wanted to wait until spring, so there would be flowers. As if. 
I was going to start at a pullout just above the ranch gate, where another car was already parked. (I assumed hiking down to the falls.) After I parked, the reclining driver peeked out. Seemed shady, so we left. I started from the powerlines.
I could have crossed the ranch on FR 1058, like I did a year ago. But now that I know it is private property, I wanted to be a good boy. A ¼ mile from the powerlines, I diverted down a small, sandy, wash. I then skirted the ranch’s southern edge, following lightly flowing Camp Creek downstream. In 250 yds., I turned left / east up a side wash. The second wash is wide, sandy, and obstacle free.
From FR 1058, Maricopa Trail climbs 300 ft. in just under a mile -- just enough to warmup for the next climb. Make sure you take time to look back, the view is spectacular!
From the first saddle, the trail drops 230 ft. in a half mile. At the canyon bottom, I found my very first wildflower of the spring — a single cluster of Gooding’s verbena. It may not have been much, but I was ecstatic. 
The trail follows the canyon bottom for 200 yds., then begins the second climb, 800 ft. in just over a mile. It blew my mind that two mountain bikes rode this trail. Me? I hiked it slow & steady, appreciating the scenery.
The second saddle is at 4,240 ft. Along the I-17 corridor, snow was predicted down to 4,500 ft. Though sunny, strong winds were pushing heavy clouds east, towards me. 30% chance of rain around 1 p.m. Without climbing to warm me, I figured I should put on my hoodie. I'd left it at home. This was not ideal. I had packed a trash bag “raincoat”, so I donned that instead. Improvise, adapt & overcome. 
The trail drops 660 ft. down canyon to the powerlines. A third of the way down canyon, I found more verbena, some closed up fleabane, and even a couple of desert globemallow. My cup runneth over.
With 1,550 AEG in the books, I thought I would stroll the next four miles to Bronco TH. Instead, the trail’s final miles were a constant fifty feet up, cross a spur, fifty feet down, cross a wash. It wasn’t bad, but it adds up.
I caught a few raindrops, but the heavy rain held off. It was still chilly & windy. I was hustling to finish the Maricopa Trail before the sky let loose. 
I finished the Maricopa Trail at exactly 1:00 p.m. Before my Dad passed away two years ago, he had given me a special hiking beer: a wood-encased, Jim Beam barrel-aged Budweiser. I’d always intended to celebrate completing the trail by drinking it. Or maybe champagning it on my head. But it was so chilly, I just bailed. Good thing too, as it started raining on the drive back down FR 24.
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v6rydjh-maricopa-tra ... lhead.html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/1074648122 |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
It was even warm enough for a rattlesnake to give a warning buzz as we passed by although he wasn't sociable enough to show himself.
The wildflowers were moderate but not as abundant as what I'd seen 2 days earlier on a hike only 2-3 miles away off of Horseshoe Dam Road. The lush spring-time green hillsides were a treat for someone who still misses the green of Oregon after living here for 8 years. The 0.6 mile off-trail to the mountain top has some steep sections leaving me a little short on energy when I reached the top. So after enjoying the views I decided to take a short nap. But just as I started clearing a space to lay down for a few Z's a military jet came streaking out of nowhere just above the top of the mountain with a very loud roar. I only had about 2 seconds warning before it was directly overhead. It must have been flying at close to the speed of sound. I was so startled that I dropped to the ground and took cover in the tall grass. But I quickly recovered and took a 40 minute nap. Nothing keeps an old geezer from his naps.
