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| Hiking | 10.47 Miles |
1,826 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.47 Miles | 6 Hrs 16 Mns | | 1.76 mph |
| 1,826 ft AEG | 20 Mns Break | 5 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Two things interested me about this hike:
First, hiking downstream along the Verde to reach the point where I turned around last year, starting at Needle Rock.
Second, bagging a peak in this area that neither @Bobp nor @FLYING_FLIVER had tagged.
I made my way past the currently closed and torched Riverside Campground below Horseshoe Dam to the end of Horseshoe Dam Road. The gate was closed and locked, blocking vehicle access beyond that point. Those with sedans should park farther back to avoid some of the rougher, rockier sections of the road.
I started at the crack of 10 a.m., with 60-degree temps and clear skies.
The first 1.5 miles followed an unmarked forest road before dropping back down to the Verde. I wandered around, trying to find viewpoints of the river through the thick vegetation, and got lucky in a few spots. Four miles in, I reached the spot where I had turned around last year when coming up from Needle Rock.
Next, I made my way cross-country, dropping into an unnamed arroyo and heading northish toward my second goal. At one point in the arroyo, I was shocked to come across a lush green area with running water. Given the dry year we've had and the lack of any springs indicated on maps, this was a surprise.
Climbing out of the arroyo, I made my way toward my last goal. The peak that had looked so unassuming from a distance turned out to be more of a challenge. Climbing up from the southeast, I played the dodge-a-cholla game—and not very well. Toward the top, the cholla couldn't take hold in the steep, loose scree, so it was a different kind of fun.
Great 360-degree views from the top. I located the No. 2 reference mark and what was left of the height-of-light but couldn't find the @Flying_Fliver "West" benchmark or any other reference marks.
After surveying my planned route down off the NW side, I retreated and chose another way. It was slow going—sometimes on my rump (as evidenced by the fresh rip in the seat of my shorts). Luckily, the NE side of the peak was cholla-free.
I had planned a cross-country shortcut but opted to take the forest roads for my return. |
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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