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| Hiking | 8.30 Miles |
829 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.30 Miles | 2 Hrs 58 Mns | | 2.80 mph |
| 829 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I’ve hiked all of the 15th Maricopa Trail segment, but never in one go: My second ever HikeArizona triplog (2010) was for the middle segment, from Buena Vista Lookout to Fat Man’s Pass. In 2019, I hiked the third segment from Fat Man’s Pass to Pima Canyon Trailhead, after looping out along Guadalupe Ridge. And in 2020, I hiked the first segment from Telegraph Pass to Buena Vista Lookout, while looping Corona de Loma.
Unlike Thanksgiving 2010, it was cold on Wednesday, with winds 12-15 mph, gusting up to 20 mph. Instead, I waited until Thursday, when it was slightly “warmer”, with winds much less. After what I went through in January, I didn’t need to get sick again.
Compared to previous segments, there were relatively few Maricopa Trail signs. The singletrack is obvious, but when in doubt, look for metal posts with a white N (National Trail) on purple sticker.
Just before Buena Vista Lookout, to the right, and 50 ft. above the road, is an old helipad with a good view of Chinese Wall.
Two loud tuners drove up—the first dangerously over the yellow line—as I approached the lookout. Thankfully, they did a U-turn and left. Maricopa Trail continues just the other side of the parking lot. As the trail dips towards a saddle, it is spotted with dog  and graffiti. Tagging ugly, out of the way, places like underpasses, is one thing, but besmirching nature is a  move.
I only saw three mountain bikes west of the lookout, but east of it MTBs were quite frequent, most of them making the rugged climb west from Pima Canyn TH. (I saw one guy walking his MTB up the “crazy hard” Waterfall).
I probably should have stayed at the Waterfall, but instead I took a sit down break at a bend just before Fat Man’s Pass. Of course, no mountain bikes rode by for twenty-eight minutes. Geez, that granite made my butt sore!
I squeezed through Fat Man's Pass in 2010, but not 2019, so I approached it with some concern. I had to take off my Camelbak, and empty my shirt pockets, but I made it through. Twice. (The second time on video.) Rather than continue on trail, I continued down wash towards Hidden Valley.
The Hidden Valley diversion is essentially the same distance as the Maricopa Trail, with less foot traffic, and no MTBs. Unlike 2020, there was no crowd at the slick rock crevice, so I was able to slide through. (Webber Mine was a tighter fit.)
Just before the trail turns to road at the stone cabin, three foreign gals -- maybe French? -- stopped on their MTBs. Despite not understanding their speech, I understood what they were looking for, and pointed them up National Trail. 
Just a few days ago, I mentioned on Haz I had not seen a roadrunner in probably years. Saw two today, including one who ran right in front of me as I finished my hike. (No, a coyote was not chasing him.)
I've now completed 141.27 of 240 Maricopa Trail miles
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/800276786 |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
Not sure what they were, but the north slopes of the Gila Range and Guadalupe Range were *dense* with yellow flowers, even in low temps (substantial?). Up top, on Maricopa Trail, flowers were light. |
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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 
Traveling north from the Loop 101 on 17th Avenue, I had to abruptly swerve, just missing a stray dog on the street. I think it might have been a rez dog, or possibly a collarless Heeler. Thank goodness I missed it because that would have ruined an otherwise perfect morning. SoMo has really desiccated over the last few weeks. Hopefully the dry grass in the preserve doesn't get ignited by a careless visitor, hobo or dorky pothead who drove over straight from Story. There was one early bird descending the Pyramid Trail, but I didn't see anyone else until near the end of Bursera. An early start going CCW in middle May works well on this loop to minimize the amount of sun exposure. This hike will likely get bumped to third most challenging of the listed South Mountain - Hikes, once the 
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and graffiti. Tagging ugly, out of the way, places like underpasses, is one thing, but besmirching nature is a 
