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| Hike & Climb | 1.40 Miles |
770 AEG |
| | Hike & Climb | 1.40 Miles | | | |
| 770 ft AEG | | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Passing through on my journey and I thought I would pay this old favorite a visit. It is probably one of the few Sedona hikes that I look back at very fondly, and I know hasn't changed and shouldn't see crowds. Crowds really were minimal, but I was here post Spring zoo season, I was told.
It had been almost 9 years, and I found it much more difficult than I recall. It likely was, as I don't do that type of thing anymore. Who knows if I ever will again? However, if I return to the Red Rocks region and find MGS too much for me, I can hike Capitol Butte via the South Face, and just deal with the probable summit crowds as that one is very popular now, it seems.
I parked at the Posse Grounds and hiked the new trail to the actual trailhead, which was packed with vehicles. I remember getting a space here on short notice on random Sundays at 2 PM in April of 2009. No more. The new trail is actually a nice addition for a short climb like this. Very scenic views.
The route to the summit is about the same as I remember from 2014 and before. Any real changes are probably confined to erosion. Not too bad. There is a summit box/ geocache on the summit now. MGS sees fairly regular traffic and there were plenty of signatures. Someone signed the little notebook saying that the route isn't 4th class, and that was, "Sandbagging", which I read means downgrading a route's difficulty. I don't know, I just got that from others who called it 4th class. If it is 5th, it was something low like 5.4 or lower. Having never been a real climber, just a tourist climber, I'll leave that for the real ones to get worked up about.
I found it fun, but slightly challenging for me, though some moves returned from memory when on the pitch. I was not as fast as I was in the past, for sure. The last 15 years went fast, and it seems like just yesterday Joe and John joined me here.
I was walking the road out enjoying some of the Arizona Cypress mixed with planted true cedars and Stone pines when a woman offered me a ride. It wasn't the Sedona shuttle as I initially thought, but a woman who runs a service who shuttles hikers during the busy times. "Hiker Help Debbie", is the business. Her number is 928-592-2011, and she asked I plug her here (actually she named that other "all" site) in lieu of a tip. She had a nice van. I figured that a ride was going to be faster than hiking, but I don't get to log that extra AEG. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
. Ahhh, just like old times 
. Trails in great shape and of course the views were awesome. Other hikers were all friendly. We checked out the MG Spire, Devil's Kitchen(sink hole), 7 sacred pools, the cool arch and beyond. Throw in some more great views and it made for a great loop. Thanks gentlemen. Always enjoy hitting the trails with you. 
Great views and a beautiful day.
