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| Hiking | 10.30 Miles |
909 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.30 Miles | 3 Hrs 28 Mns | | 2.97 mph |
| 909 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This week I did not forget to bring my GPS. Having brought my GPS, I had not forgotten to load today’s Maricopa Trail route. Instead, having arrived at the Granite Mountain Trailhead, I lost my GPS. (It was in my car.) Progress!
Though only 45℉ when I started at 7:20 a.m., it felt warmer. Not bad, really. By the time I finished around noon, the temperature was a toasty 75℉.
The best boulders and saguaro are on Bootlegger Trail.
Granite Mountain Trail is MTB-optimized to a ridiculous degree.
On Branding Iron Trail, the photogenic saguaro begin petering out, replaced by cholla and banana yucca. TD1, at The Divide Trail junction is the highpoint of this Maricopa Trail segment.
The Divide Trail heads north, slowly downhill. Rocky at first, it smooths out. I covered The Divide Trail’s two miles in only 44 minutes, including photos. Speedy!
Anybody know what the deal is with the park's “Phase 2C” trail plan?
Dove Valley Trail, an old jeep trail, heads towards the powerlines. I passed a hiker who said she never sees anyone out there. There’s decent mid-day shade in the washes.
There is a small OHV trailhead at the junction of FR 2090 and FR 513. The trailhead would be a good turn around point for an out & back from either Granite Mountain TH or Bartlett Dam Rd. Alternately, a Maricopa Trail segment from the OHV trailhead to FR 1058 would be about 8.0 miles. More importantly, the final segment to Bronco Trailhead would be significantly shortened to from 12.8 to 8.2 miles.
There were quite a few small puddles from yesterday’s rain. The trailside cheat grass has certainly enjoyed the wet winter monsoon, and the increase in fuel could bode ill for this year’s wildfire season.
There’s another OHV trailhead where the powerlines cross Bartlett Dam Rd. Personally, I’d stage my shuttle there, rather than trudge the final half mile to the Cave Creek Ranger Station. (Though the station parking lot had by far the best flowers: scads of red & yellow pea.)
I’ve now completed 230.81 miles of Maricopa Trail. Only one (?) tough segment to go!
Rumble Video: https://rumble.com/v4l7m7r-maricopa-tra ... m-rd..html
Vimeo Video: https://vimeo.com/926818542 |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Overall, desert flower coverage was light, but best along Bootlegger Trail and Granite Mountain Trail. Red & yellow pea were most common, followed by fiddleneck and blue d1ck. I found Mexican gold poppy (cinched up tight against the chill) and Coulter’s lupine on Granite Mountain Trail, Lindley’s False Silverpuff at both ends of Branding Iron Trail, and scarlet bugler on The Divide Trail. Also stork’s bill. |
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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
