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| | | Hieroglyphics Multi-Peak Super Loop, AZ | | | |
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Hieroglyphics Multi-Peak Super Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 15.35 Miles |
4,055 AEG |
| | Hiking | 15.35 Miles | 11 Hrs 46 Mns | | 1.59 mph |
| 4,055 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 6 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Linda and I met at 4:30AM and headed for the Hieroglyphics for a loop hike with a few spurs that would take us to a total of four peaks--all new ones for me, several she'd hiked before. We parked at a pullout near Garfias Wash TH and started with a flashlight as the sun was just starting to rise. A quarter-mile in, I realized I'd forgotten the camera, so I got an unplanned bonus warm-up running back to the Jeep.
We followed Garfias Wash before turning north toward Hellgate Mountain, the first peak, with a nice sunrise as we started gaining elevation. Not bad getting up, just a lot of cholla to avoid. We got our first look at Big Hell's Gate from the top, and the summit (of course) had a MacLeod/Lilley register from 1998...coincidentally, Linda had signed in five years ago to the day.
Hellgate summit: [ youtube video ]
From there we hiked back down to the wash and continued south toward Garfias Mountain, staying on the east side of Peak 3081. The approach was brushier and steeper than it appeared from a distance, but once Linda pointed me toward the right peak, we made it without any issues. From the summit, we could see a little water below near Hell Canyon Spring, and we signed our second McLeod/Lilley register, another '98 vintage.
Garfias summit: [ youtube video ]
We returned north to Garfias Wash to continue the clockwise loop, passing through some cool geology and areas that would've looked great with some flowing water, but it was bone dry. I almost stepped on a Gila monster in the middle of the wash, then we detoured to a cave in Hell Canyon, where Linda tried to convince me to go in first to check for mountain lions (rumor has it, I'm not the first one she's tried that on...). No lions, just some guano and javelina bones inside. We finally saw some stagnant water farther down the canyon, but mud and a calf carcass didn't offer much incentive to forge deeper into Hell.
We got back on the loop and followed Horse Creek to the south, passing through more interesting rock formations and a few small pools. After a snack break, we continued to Horse Spring, which was mostly mud, flies, and cow pies. There, we turned south and started the steep climb up to Peak 3651, past an alcove, over a barbed wire fence, and then had a rocky/brushy scramble around a large rock outcropping before reaching a saddle. A nice breeze picked up as we approached the summit, and we ate a snack at the top, signed our third MacLeod/Lilley register of the day (this one an '88), and relaxed for a while on Hell's high point before starting down.
3651 summit: [ youtube video ]
Leaving the peak, we turned east before the saddle and had a steep, brushy descent over to Horse Creek Trail and Burro Flats. The area around Burro Spring was very pleasant--some shade, views of Peak 3465, some caves/alcoves, and more cool formations. Linda had been to 3392 before, and she waited while I went up to the fourth peak. More brush and scrambling near the top, then one final scramble up to the small, rocky summit. Surprisingly, no MacLeod/Lilley register on that one.
3392 summit: [ youtube video ]
I rejoined Linda to finish off the loop with some easy trail/road hiking, where we passed a deer. After some clouds had gathered in the west, the sun re-emerged on the hike out, with long shadows providing some nice views of Hellgate, Garfias, and 3651 to the east. Linda even found a random wrench in the road, capping off a long, tiring, and very fun day with ~12 hours of hiking. We didn't see any other people all day...and surprisingly, we didn't see any burros during the hike. We had a nice sunset on the drive out and got a final look at Big Hell's Gate before it got dark. Fun day from start to finish  . |
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