Telephone Ridge Trail - Pinals • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

East Mountain - Pinal Mountains

Una Del Oso Trail #201

Toll Road Trail #200

East Mountain Trail #214

Pipeline Trail #193 - Pinal

Signal Peak 7812

Kellner Canyon Trail #242

Icehouse Canyon Trail #198

Partners

none

no partners

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Another favorite hike of last year I had another go at. Changed it slightly, figured why go all the way up the mountain only to walk the road instead of upper Six Shooter, Middle, and Pipeline Trails. Started around sunrise and went clockwise.

Six Shooter to Una Del Oso water in the one creek, nothing on Oso. Overall drier than June last year. Tread is good, cold in the drainages and warm in the sunrise.

Toll Road through East Mountain Trail the scenery picks up. Into the forest, good wilflowers along the way. East Mountain ridgeline fun as ever. Too early for ladybugs. Up the north ridge and down the west through the pines like last year. Not much of a bushwhack but it's steep.

Pioneer up to Pinal Peak and the climbing was out of the way. Relaxing cruise for Ferndell - 6 Shooter - Middle - Pipeline. Leaves higher up yet to regrow, lower down the oaks, maples, etc are fleshing out. Made for less shade on Ferndell than in June. Still a lovely trail and network between the cabins and campgrounds. Middle Trail a particular favorite. Lost Pipeline on the north side but found the end at the road. It's there just got impatient and climbed up to the campsite.

Signal Peak fire watch season is already underway. Tower was occupied, loud phone conversations and radio static the first signs of human life on the day.

Down the roads to Kellner. Passed a sedan that had driven up, only person I passed all day. Kellner trail starts in the canyon of fir and oak. Oaks are still bald and the canyon largely unshaded. Once out of the canyon the trail winds around to Icehouse through shady pines.

Icehouse slog back. First hike in new boots. Hadn't broke them in. Last few miles were painful. Got back to a few cars at the Icehouse CCC TH, but I didn't see any hikers all day.

Wildflowers Observation Light
Good purples and golds on Toll Road, East Mountain Trail, East Mountain ridgeline, lower Kellner Trail.

2 archives

Aug 09 2020

Jim

Guides 73
Routes 176
Photos 10,174
Triplogs 2,324

46 male

Joined Sep 08 2006

Pioneer Trail #196

Globe, AZ

Pioneer Trail #196

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Aug 09 2020
		Jim • Triplogs 2,324

Hiking	10.00 Miles	3,100 AEG

Hiking	10.00 Miles	6 Hrs 30 Mns		1.74 mph
	3,100 ft AEG	45 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Ferndell Trail #204

Pipeline Trail #193 - Pinal

Signal Peak 7812

Middle Trail #202

Partners

none

no partners

Two dry summers in a row meant I went out to do this with a zero percent chance of storms and no rain gear. Didn't need it, either, not even close. If anything, it was hot, 93 at the trailhead at 5:15, and warm most of the hike. You can tell the mountain has had barely any rain, as everything looks dry. Lots of dry plants on the Pioneer, and on top trees are losing leaves. Usually it is wet about now.

Up Pioneer, skipped Pinal Peak both times, down Ferndell to Six Shooter, which I took to the Telephone Trail, and once I got to the ridge I turned up that. Partly, because I didn't feel like losing any more elevation, and partly because I thought the trail was higher up, not slightly below. I then went up the ridge to Signal Peak. Someone was playing Peter and the Wolf by flute in the tower, as well as a few other things. I saw no wolves, or bears, FYI. After the brief segments of the Pipeline and Middle trails, I stopped at the exotic trees and the hummingbird feeder collection. The trees are losing leaves due to drought, but are fine. There are fewer hummingbird feeders, and I only saw two birds. Nothing like last July when there were dozens of birds, it seemed. I then went back down the Pioneer. Nice views from the Baldy in the White Mountains, to the Catalinas and Rincons.

Not enough decent routes for me to use or piece together, so I added the AEG from the Pioneer and the Telephone Ridge up to Signal Peak. Might have lost some from the Pipeline and Middle. Miles, is a safe guess.

	Squaw Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Nasty!

_____________________

Oct 27 2018

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,762

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Pinal 4x Light, AZ

Hiking		Oct 27 2018
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,762

Hiking	18.67 Miles	5,505 AEG

Hiking	18.67 Miles	9 Hrs 9 Mns	2.26 mph
	5,505 ft AEG	53 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Icehouse Canyon Trail #198

Kellner Canyon Trail #242

Partners

partners

BobP

joebartels

Joe suggested a late week change based on a @rayhuston triplog.
Late week add of the infamous @bobp (I told him Lookout Mountain was closed for repairs)
@JimmyLyding introduced me to this area more than 8 years ago and almost killed me, but I keep coming back to this favorite.

I put together this 4x wannabe to try to take in all the color and all our favorite trails.

Up Six Shooter Trail #197, after crossing FR112, I'd forgotten how nice this lower section was. It helped having running water and some early color in spots. Climbing out of Six Shooter, you get into the tall pines and the start getting distant views. The color started in earnest at the intersection with Telephone Trail. From here up to Ferndell is prime.

Down Icehouse Canyon Trail #198, the color started from the get go. It was yellow and red maple heaven.
Bob's multiple pleas, fell upon deaf ears.

The climb up the Telephone Trail #192, at the unofficial Ridgeline Trail, turns steep to the top.

Next, the road walk over to the Kellner Canyon Trail #242. This drops through mostly oaks. Kellner Canyon drainage was running most of the way down. This trail is in mostly great condition. There are some big views north to and past Globe, to the Sierra Ancha.

Perfect weather for hiking.
Great hiking with Bubby again.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Common Mullein

Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial

	Ferndell Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Full Spring box

	Icehouse Springbox	Dripping	Dripping
	Springbox has not yet been turned on. Contained some dirty rainwater

	Six Shooter Canyon	Light flow	Light flow
	Firs time I've seen this flowing.

	Trail Junction Mine Spring	Gallon per minute	Gallon per minute
	Full spring box

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

Oct 18 2014

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,762

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Pinal 4X - 4th Annual, AZ

Hiking		Oct 18 2014
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,762

Hiking	25.74 Miles	7,251 AEG

Hiking	25.74 Miles	11 Hrs 45 Mns		2.48 mph
	7,251 ft AEG	1 Hour 23 Mns Break	16 LBS Pack

Linked

10 linked trail guides

Icehouse Canyon Trail #198

Kellner Canyon Trail #242

Pinal Mountains 4X Super Loop

Pipeline Trail #193 - Pinal

Sixshooter-Telephone Ridge Loop

Ferndell Trail #204

Middle Trail #202

Partners

partners

	azdesertfather	FOTG
	Grimey	joebartels
	rayhuston

First time hiking in Joe's Pinal-A-Palooza death march.

Met a HAZ'er Grimey-Dave (Great to meet you),
Saw AZDesertfather-Dave for the first time in a long time.
Hiked with Widowmaker-Larry, boywithdogs-Lee again
and finally got to hike in the same direction with rayhouston-Ray

After we got past Joe's shortcut and arrived a smidge late to the TH, we began Hiking a bit after 6:15.

The Telephone Trail #192 is not my favorite trail in the area. If you like a Loose, > Steep, Bulldozer cut, then this is the trail for you. I'm amazed the the power shovel will work on grades like that, without tipping over. ETA for completion the Pinal Mountain Cable Replacement, June 2016 (Just under 3 years total).

Splitting from the group, I led Dave

and boywithdogs over to the Pipeline Trail #193 and then the Middle Trail #202 to get to Pinal Peak. We spent a few minutes by the towers and then I wanted to show them the Rock Ladder.

Next it was the Ferndell Trail #204 to meet up with the rest of the gang. First time on this one and it was IMHO the more scenic way to get over to Six Shooter from the peak.

After stopping at Ferndell Spring to water the dogs and himself, Lee and Dave felt the need for speed and decided to run down Six Shooter #197. Never Saw Dave again the rest of the day. Me on the other hand put the camera to work. The foliage was so thick at Ferndell Spring, it almost choked out the light

. There were a few larger pockets of extreme color, but next weekend should be prime.

I caught up to Joe, Ray, Larry and the Dave (Grimey) on the way down and then Lee at the parking area for some lunch.

Up Icehouse Canyon #198 was a slog until just after the Kellner intersection. That's when we got some much needed shade. The rest of the way up was under the canopy, with more pockets of vibrant color.

Down Kellner Canyon Trail #242 for the first time for me. It was unique from the other trails up there.
Spent a bit of time checking out the big Steel Wheel thingy, Steel plated boiler and some of the other artifacts up top. Great views with the fading sun on the way down and to the truck before dark.

Temps on the day ranged from 53 in the morning, to 92 (sun aided) starting after lunch, back down to 59 up top, to 68 when we finished.

Thanks for putting this together Senior Gumdrop and for driving.

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Boiler

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ferndell Spring

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Autumn - Color Foliage

Autumn Foliage Observation Substantial

Dog House Spring

Dripping

	Ferndell Spring	Gallon per minute	Gallon per minute
	Plenty of Clear cool Water

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

3 archives

Nov 03 2012

hikerdw

Routes 268
Photos 2,969
Triplogs 541

66 male

Joined Aug 16 2009
Mesa,AZ

Globe, AZ

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Nov 03 2012
		hikerdw • Triplogs 541

Hiking	12.10 Miles	3,549 AEG

Hiking	12.10 Miles	5 Hrs 41 Mns	2.58 mph
	3,549 ft AEG	1 Hour Break

Linked

linked