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| | | FR 607 & 607A (Strawberry North), AZ | | | |
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FR 607 & 607A (Strawberry North), AZ
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| Hiking | 8.30 Miles |
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| | Hiking | 8.30 Miles | 3 Hrs 51 Mns | | 2.16 mph |
| | 18 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Seeking a hike somewhere-on-the-Rim a few days BEFORE the holiday to avoid the traffic was the challenge.
Having done something similar from Forest Road 608 just north of Strawberry a few years ago, a leisurely wandering on Forest Roads (existing/closed/non-existent) would fit the bill just fine.
While I spent plenty of time on Route Editor attempting to cover all the roads with one single route, it would have meant more off-trail including some steeper climbs, so I settled for a loop of sorts from Forest Road 607A, followed by a separate hike of out-and-backs from Forest Road 607.
Hike 1 started at Forest Road 607A about 7 miles North of Strawberry on AZ 87.
South on 607A to 9387T
West on 9387T until it disappears
SW off-trail to the North end of closed/decommissioned 6191 (Game trails helped here)
SW on 6191 to 6184
West on 6184 to 608
South on 608 to 9388R
NE on 9388R until it disappeared
NE off-trail to 9381E (bits and pieces of 'road' here and there, none made sense)
East on 9381E to 607A
South to the very end of 607A (not much of an overlook)
Finally North on 607A to the start at AZ 87.
Hike 2 started at a small tank along FR 607 just over a quarter-mile South of AZ 87.
SE on 607 all the way to the end
North on 607 to the 607/9384W/9384V junction
PLANNED to follow 9384W but although marked with a shiny sign, there was nothing but pine saplings
Next up, East on 9384V (obvious road but totally UN-signed) to its end (slightly into Cinch Hook Canyon)
West on 9384V back to 607
North on 607 to 9384R (at the tank)
SW on 9384R to its dead-end
NE on 9384R to the tank.
Overall, we ALMOST completed both hikes without encountering another human... the closest we came was a good 100 yards from a campsite, from which we heard a dog bark followed by a human voice (shutting the dog up?). I didn't really see anyone but we took a short off-road detour to avoid any unneeded dog/human interaction.
A fleeting glimpse of a tom turkey but no other wildlife short of a few birds, squirrels and a butterfly or two. But no matter, it was another relaxing day in the pines.
Surprisingly the drive back to Payson was chill... some traffic but nobody in a particular hurry.
Almost the same heading South of Payson but for driver (texting when he passed us) in a red pickup with a high/unstable load, weaving pretty much all over the road (on the shoulder once), in a super hurry and wasting NO time on the winding 55 mph section. We kept wondering when we'd come upon the wreck, or possibly stopped for speeding near Rye (no DPS with radar this time) but I guess he lived to die (or possibly kill/maim another motorist) another day. |
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