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| Hiking | 12.31 Miles |
2,797 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.31 Miles | 5 Hrs 39 Mns | | 2.25 mph |
| 2,797 ft AEG | 11 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Originally planned this as an out & back along the ridge to Schafer Peak. Ended up changing it to a loop when I discovered that a trail that may or may not still exist actually still exists.
Easy drive up to Johnson Saddle. Got started with the hike around 0815 and headed up Green Monarch Ridge trail. Quickly climbed about 400’, then immediately lost all that gain. Trail is mostly clear of vegetation, but rutted from dirtbikes. Uphill was okay, downhill was slippery.
Kept getting glimpses of the lake, but the trees prevented any good pics. Another steep climb up Green Monarch Mtn. Then finally two really good viewpoints, clear of trees. I could identify a lot of other summits I’ve been to over the last few years, mostly in the Cabinets and Selkirks.
Another steep drop to the saddle before Schafer Peak. That’s when I noticed trail 105 really does exist. Started debating turning the hike from a 9 mile out and back to a 12 mile loop with road walk. But first, I had to get up Schafer. It was obvious this trail does not get nearly as much use. More overgrown, and about a dozen downed trees across the trail. Nothing terrible, but slowed progress. Crossed a talus slope just before reaching the summit. Not spectacular views, but still a nice summit. Had a snack before heading back down.
Once back at the saddle, I opted to descend trail 105. No matter which way I returned, I was going to have to regain about 800-900’, so might as well include something new. Trail 105 was a steep descent down Tepee Gulch. Had to grab a few tree roots in some of the eroded corners.
Once at the bottom, I started the road walk back up to Johnson Saddle. Nothing exciting, just a gradual ascent. Would have liked a little more shade since it was warm. Saw two guys in a truck pulling a trailer down the road. The first people I had seen all day. About a mile later, some rangers/officers in a law enforcement truck stopped as I was walking past. They asked if I had seen anyone while I was hiking. I told them nobody on the trail, and only one truck on the road about 20 minutes earlier. That got their attention. The more info I gave, the more it was matching up with what they wanted to hear. Seems like the tuff shed type building the guys were hauling on the trailer may not have exactly belonged to those guys, lol. We exchanged info, I reassured the officers I was fine hiking the last three miles on the road, they were happy I was carrying, and they set off after the truck.
Pretty warm when I finished, about 86 degrees, so I was glad to be done. Nice loop. I’d definitely hike to the viewpoints on Green Monarch Mtn again, and maybe to Schafer again, but wouldn’t do the loop unless the weather was cooler. Glad to get double digit mileage though. |
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| Stop crying and just go do the hike. |
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