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| Backpack | 16.00 Miles |
1,500 AEG |
| | Backpack | 16.00 Miles | 3 Days | | |
| 1,500 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | To make up for the sufferfest I went through on my last backpacking trip, for this weekend I chose an easy wander through the Spence Basin area, as I was fairly certain the trails were well maintained, and I enjoyed my last visit to this area. I found the trail conditions to be excellent.
Weather was about perfect for the 3 days, with the high reaching 70 and lows staying above freezing. I managed to complete all the parts of my plan well ahead of schedule. I only spent about 8 hours hiking over the 3 days, leaving plenty of time for lounging, relaxing and catching up on both reading and sleep.
While this area is popular with bikers it is also open to hiking and backpacking. Many of the trails skirt nearby housing developments, but even so I found the trails enjoyable, although many of them have few distinguishing features.
Was lucky to run into some deer on Saturday, as that was more wildlife than I expected to see in an area of forest hemmed in by housing developments. Sadly, this area seems to have no spring wildflowers at all and in general the landscape has a drab appearance as if it is still recovering from a harsh winter.
For HAZ members looking to rack up some easy miles through scrub-oak/pine woodland, I'd recommend this area in the spring and fall when it is otherwise a bit hot to hike in the low desert. |
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Spence Creek |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | Light flow at the sidekick crossing |
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Willow Creek |
Medium flow |
Medium flow |
| | | Medium flow at Little Italy crossing, along Javelina, along Willow Creek, and at Willy Nilly crossing. | | _____________________
http://hikearizona.com/garmin_maps.php
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife! |
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