Vine Canyon Loop • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Jun 08 2019

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,627
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,762

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Vine Canyon Loop

Payson, AZ

Vine Canyon Loop

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Jun 08 2019
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,762

Hiking	13.08 Miles	2,630 AEG

Hiking	13.08 Miles	9 Hrs 50 Mns		1.57 mph
	2,630 ft AEG	1 Hour 30 Mns Break	14 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Calf Pen Canyon

Mail Trail #84

Bob Bear Trail #18 - Fossil Creek

Nash Pasture Trail

Nash Point

Partners

partners

chumley

joebartels

This was a twist on plan A that came about when Chums decided to join and suggest a tweak.
Ever since the @Outlander trip to Calf Pen Canyon 6 year ago, this area has been on my radar.

At just shy of 4 hours to get the 3.25 miles and -2000' to lunch at Calf Pen and Sandrock canyon, we did not set any land speed records for navigating this unnamed canyon, but there was no reason to. After discussions, we dubbed this Vine Canyon, for the many vines in the canyon. This canyon included numerous non technical down climbs, maple thickets, dramatic rock formations, PI, plenty of water and plenty of evidence of past illegal irrigation activity.

Leaving the Sandrock / Calf pen area, there was running water all the way to the Fossil Creek Dam area. Pretty slick rock areas and signs of an old trail tread in places. When we reached the intersection with the Mail Trail #84, the sign facing the direction we came from, read "Dead End"

We stopped in the Springs area of Fossil Springs and cooled off in the water. Next up was the old dam area. There was a small group enjoying the water. A bit downstream is the cave area that we decided to swim over an check out the inside of. Quite a cool little gem.

Making the retreat back to the truck, the temps were a tad warm on the climb out, but the breezes helped. On what I'm calling the unofficial Nash Pasture Trail, the climb gets steep in spots. I'm not sure on the history of this tread, but it is defiantly and old entryway into the springs area.

Good times in some new areas. I can tell this was a different type of hike, I'm sore in spots today, not normally sore after a hike.

Calf Pen Canyon

Light flow

Fossil Springs

Gallon + per minute

Nash Pasture Tank

76-100% full

	Nash Tank	51-75% full	51-75% full
	As we noted as walking by, this has H2O in it, among many other ingredients. Wait to to hit the Cheveron station in Pine.

_____________________

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

1 archive

Jun 08 2019

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,798
Photos 14,514
Triplogs 5,895

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Vine Canyon Loop

Payson, AZ

Vine Canyon Loop

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Jun 08 2019
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,895

Hiking	13.03 Miles	3,361 AEG

Hiking	13.03 Miles	9 Hrs 50 Mns		1.67 mph
	3,361 ft AEG	2 Hrs 3 Mns Break	14 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Bob Bear Trail #18 - Fossil Creek

Nash Pasture Trail

Partners

partners

chumley

The_Eagle

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

Bruce suggested a rare out-n-back. Chums spiced it up with an Outlander route which Bruce had on the back burner too. Heading in I wasn't yippee skippy excited about non-technical canyoneering what looked like mandatory pants terrain on satellite in June. On the same token you don't turn down opportunity, especially retracing Outlander.

Within a hundred yards I was glad I made the rare choice to wear pants as we worked through light manzanita. Tree cover heading down was a bonus. Obstacles most could navigate handily kept our pace to a crawl. We logged a good hour on a couple down climbs alone trying multiple approaches to get me down.

The canyon was a worthy ride with oohs and ahhs along the way.

2.75 miles down took most of the morning. Under a half mile of occasional bushwhacking later we lunched. Which was a sight to see in it's own. Imagine someone plowing through said foliage in shorts without one complaint. BiFrost can punch a hole through steel manzanita like no other layered head to toe ready to battle. Chums deserves a golf clap or slap on the noggin for the beach attire approach.

After lunch it was creek and faint trail travel over to social disneyland. Tweedle dum and tweedle dee went swimming over and over like they were robbed childhood while I simply relaxed and absorbed the creek atmosphere.

The hike up was a roaster but seemed reasonable knowing it was a good 15 degrees shy of really hot.

Enjoyed the hike. Glad it ended.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Halfmoon milkvetch Yellow Columbine

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Swimming Hole

Wildflowers Observation Light
notably verbena
isolated paintbrush
light columbine in a couple areas

_____________________

- joe

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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