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| | | Thumb Butte - Mt Francis Loop, AZ | | | |
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Thumb Butte - Mt Francis Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 18.73 Miles |
2,535 AEG |
| | Hiking | 18.73 Miles | 7 Hrs 14 Mns | | 2.95 mph |
| 2,535 ft AEG | 53 Mns Break | 12 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | Headed north to higher ground to put some distance between us and the heat from the fire orb.
I tweaked a route we did 6 years ago to get rid of a less than memorable off trail section and add some options.
You start this loop with an immediate 600+ foot climb to get to the Thumb Butte Saddle. After that there are tons of choices up here on nicely groomed trails. MTB's seem to be the largest user of these trails, but we did not see a single one on the day. In fact, we only crossed paths with a few hikers.
I can't begin to remember all the names of the trails we were on, but here are some of my takeaways.
Smooth trails, gentle grades, pine trees for shade, four flowing (lightly) Creeks, nice breezes, big views to the Prescott Valley and the Copper Basin from the Sierra Prieta Lookout.
Other takeaways included some of the things heard on the day:
"Is this hike all uphill"
"Is this hike all downhill"
"It's too hot"
"It's too cold"
"The wind's not blowing"
"The wind's blowing too much"
"My ear's bleeding"
"My feet hurt"
"Can you go pick up the car"
At one point he announced that he was too tired to whine anymore, but that never proved to be true.
This is/was a very pleasant loop (with earplugs). There's nothing that jumps out as being extraordinary, but one I'll do again.
Driving home, southbound on I-17, we were quite happy to not be going northbound. A jack-knifed travel trailer and a bad rear ender, had things a mess around the Sunset Point rest area. We waived to @FOTG as we passed and continued home. |
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| _____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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