Whitmore Trail • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Dec 27 2024

shelby147

Routes 5
Photos 435
Triplogs 119

female

Joined Mar 26 2022
Flagstaff, AZ

Toroweap wanderings, AZ

Backpack		Dec 27 2024
		shelby147 • Triplogs 119

Backpack	85.00 Miles	12,700 AEG

Backpack	85.00 Miles	7 Days
	12,700 ft AEG

no routes

no photosets

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Conditions were still perfect so I squeezed one more hike into winter break. I couldn't get my car all the way out so biked ~25 miles out and back on that washboard road (really not comfortable with a road bike and 45lb pack). I wanted to hike a loop from Toroweap to Tuckup but there was no water - so I did a 35+ mile water carry on the Esplanade before bailing down to Lava Falls for my plan B hike. Plan B was to use Whitmore as my river access point and explore on the Esplanade from there. I camped out on Lone Mountain, which feels very remote and offers fantastic panoramic views. I found seven mylar balloons in my last three days.

Apr 14 2024

pseudalpine

Guides 59
Routes 1,100
Photos 1,191
Triplogs 1,290

male

Joined Jan 01 2023
Arizona

Uinkaret Undulations, AZ

Hiking		Apr 14 2024
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290

Hiking	9.74 Miles	2,969 AEG

Hiking	9.74 Miles	5 Hrs 2 Mns	2.30 mph
	2,969 ft AEG	48 Mns Break

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Whitmore Trail

Mount Trumbull Trail

Nampaweap Rock Art Site

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

After our bike, hike and climb of [ Mollies Nipple - GC ] on Saturday, I did the onerous, three-hour 4x4 drive from near [ Mount Dellenbaugh ] over to Whitmore Canyon Overlook. I arrived at eight o'clock with only one large group of circled wagons present. The following morning, the fleeting lava dam hike was my first trek of three total completed on Sunday. The second was to the summit of an inactive volcano and my third hike was a mystifying and mellow meander amongst what could be considered vandalism today, but it's precious because it's archeo.

1. [ Whitmore Trail ]
The creosote and ocotillo were flowering profusely with many buzzing bees working the buds early. This trail seemed easy on this somewhat cool morning. The night before was the warmest camp I'd stayed at so far. The columnar basalt near the base of the lava flow is absolutely magnificent. Numerous swifts were chirping, swooshing and dive-bombing near the black cliffsides. There wasn't a river party camped at the contentious Whitmore Helipad (RM 186.9), so consequently no vexing helicopter flights overhead this day. The river was chocolate brown and I only lingered briefly at two of the beach access points. It would of been nice to have a bath!

There were more good hikes to complete before it got warmer.

2. [ Mount Trumbull Trail ]
This hike switchbacks steeply at first then gradually ascends the southern lava slopes through Pinyon–juniper woodland with many manzanita thickets, agave and oak trees. There are quite a few fresh and old deadfalls along the route, more so the higher one ascends. The first half of trail is pumice stones with occasional good views south of the Mount Logan Wilderness and the amazing spatter ramparts. The end of the first part on the east side allows great views of Red Butte and the San Francisco Peaks. The first part of the second half transverses a burnt area with some annoying locust and downed logs and then enters an unburnt ponderosa forest and tracks the south (left) side of a drainage for a while. The upper second half is mostly duff, somewhat obscure with some rockiness near the summit. The few remaining prudent cairns are helpful at keeping on route. A transient stroll past the summit benchmark to the north is worth the view towards Utah.

3. [ Nampaweap Rock Art Site ]
I have few words to describe this immemorial location. These ancient rock chippers were skilled at creating some intricate and compelling designs. They seem to have had some leisure time.

It was splendid experiencing this site alone. You should visit for yourself and draw your own conclusions. I think you'll also be moved.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Creosote Bush Ocotillo

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Basalt Basaltic Columns

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Lone Mountain Mount Emma Uinkaret Mountains Whitmore Point

50 archives

Apr 19 2021

AZLOT69

Guides 177
Routes 249
Photos 10,213
Triplogs 2,215

74 male

Joined Feb 12 2002
Gold Canyon, AZ

Whitmore Trail

Northwest, AZ

Whitmore Trail

Northwest, AZ

Hiking		Apr 19 2021
		AZLOT69 • Triplogs 2,215

Hiking	3.60 Miles	908 AEG

Hiking	3.60 Miles
	908 ft AEG

no routes

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Great adventure. Took a dip in the Colorado. Long quad trip back and forth but amazing to have the trail completely to ourselves.

_____________________

It's best for a man to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open his mouth and remove all doubt.
--Mark Twain

1 archive

Apr 19 2019

azbackpackr

Guides 27
Routes 518
Photos 5,861
Triplogs 883

72 female

Joined Jan 21 2006
Eagar AZ

Whitmore Trail

Northwest, AZ

Whitmore Trail

Northwest, AZ

Hiking		Apr 19 2019
		azbackpackr • Triplogs 883

Hiking	2.18 Miles	1,039 AEG

Hiking	2.18 Miles	2 Hrs 6 Mns	1.15 mph
	1,039 ft AEG	12 Mns Break

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Looks like I'm the first one to post this trail on HAZ. Starting from the river, our boating party hiked up the trail, almost, but not quite, to the trailhead. From a hilltop we could see quite a few ATVs parked at the roadend there, belonging to a large extended family of Mormons who were hiking down to the river. They were leaving plastic Easter eggs for their kids to find on the way back up. It was a couple of days before Easter. Since it was already midday, some of those folks and little kids looked pretty sunburned and tired, but they were very friendly to us.

The trail passes some interesting volcanic formations. I didn't get photos of all of them, sorry. The views of the river are tremendous. This must be just about the shortest and easiest trail to the bottom of Grand Canyon, bar none. But I think the driving route to the trailhead is pretty long, and requires 4WD.

I took a little waterproof camera on the river trip, a Fujifilm. I'm not too happy with it. I knew that beforehand, anyway. This was my 4th river trip in 7 years, so I've taken most of the photos I'm going to take, anyway. After a while you just live in the experience, and the photos are less important. At least, for me.

I'll post more hikes and info about the river trip a little at a time. It was my first commercial river trip, (having only done non-commercial DIY trips before). Also my first trip in the spring. I went as a crew member, and washed a lot of dishes, chopped a lot of onions, schlepped a lot of gear. 20 guests, 7 crew members, 16 days, 5 oar rafts, one dory.

Wildflowers Observation Substantial
Wildflowers everywhere. Loads of brittlebush, of course.

_____________________

There is a point of no return unremarked at the time in most lives. Graham Greene The Comedians
A clean house is a sign of a misspent life.

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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