Boyer Ridge • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Feb 19 2021

Grasshopper

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

4x4 Scenic Drive to Thompson Mesa- Salome Wild, AZ

4x4 Trip		Feb 19 2021
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

4x4 Trip	17.64 Miles	3,151 AEG

4x4 Trip	17.64 Miles	13 Hrs 35 Mns	1.30 mph
	3,151 ft AEG

Linked

linked

Boyer Cabin Trail #148

Boyer Ridge

Partners

partners

Oregon_Hiker

In March'08 and March'10 I visited this area for two very enjoyable long drive - dayhike trips to do the [ Boyer Cabin Trail #148 ] and the [ Boyer Ridge ] .

Oregon_Hiker and I had been planning over two prior months for another early Spring'21 seven to eight day vehicle camping / hike exploration trip back (a third visit for me - a first for O/H) to this Tonto National Forest scenic, remote, rugged, and historic ranching area which bordered the Salome Wilderness in the high foothills, northeast of Roosevelt Lake.

Since March'08, the drive out and back to this Thompson Mesa area had always been a challenging stock 4WD vehicle trip, but generally safely doable in a capable, stock 4WD Vehicle with quality off-road tires, high clearance, and with an experienced off-road driver behind the wheel.

After the recent completion of our two months of planning for this soon upcoming full week trip, Oregon_Hiker and I still had a few concerns related to road conditions and campsite location options. O/H was mostly concerned about road conditions and I was mostly concerned about locating a suitable enough new "Camp Grasshopper" location. Fortunately, we decided to first do this 2/19/21 long day out and back scouting trip and a very smart decision it was as after, we needed to cancel our plans for our upcoming full week trip to here [ photo ]

For the rest of our well documented day out, and before attempting this now serious 4WD day to Thompson Mesa, please read Oregon_Hiker [ triplog ] with relative comments, photoset, and please review my posted Gps drive route above and linked here with important road, waypoint comments [ gps route ] .

In hindsight, the moral to this enjoyable but very challenging day is..
The First Rule of the Wilderness applies: NEVER ASSUME ANYTHING!

On our four+ hour drive back home, we took a welcomed break for dinner in Miami at the always satisfying [ image ] .

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Armer Mountain Boyer Canyon Boyer Ridge Dutchwoman Butte Greenback Peak Salome Canyon Creek Salome Wilderness South Fork Parker Creek Thompson Mesa

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

12 archives

Dec 14 2020

Grasshopper

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Western Sierra Ancha Foothills, AZ

Hiking		Dec 14 2020
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	2.23 Miles	683 AEG

Hiking	2.23 Miles	4 Hrs 2 Mns	0.79 mph
	683 ft AEG	1 Hour 12 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Boyer Cabin Trail #148

Boyer Ridge

Partners

partners

Oregon_Hiker

This large and remote Tonto National Forest area, NE of Roosevelt Lake and North of FR60 (A-Cross Road) that runs between the Sierra Ancha-Young Highway 288 and Pumpkin Center is known for its ranching history, ancient Native American history, some very challenging 4WD roads which provide a few official F/S trails with a huge amount of off-trail hike exploring available and very scenic driving if you are in the right 4WD vehicle.

Between early Spring of 2008 and Spring 2010 with HAZ-topohiker(Ken) and HAZ-ssk44 (Eric), I spent some very enjoyable time exploring in this area and had not been back since March-2010.

This long overdue return visit was prompted by Eric's early September'2020 interesting Google Earth find of another potential, lesser known, ancient Native American Ruin Site that had HAZ-Oregon_Hiker (Larry) and my name written all over it

See our posted, geocoded photosets with captions for more details.

There are a couple of drive options North off of FR60 (A-Cross Road) to access this area where we needed to be. The access road we chose to drive in Larry's FJ Cruiser was FR97 with less off-road driving miles but requires a vehicle with high clearance, real 4WD (no Subaru's), off-road quality tires, and at least one locker recommended. The other driving option route North off of FR60 is to continue further NW on FR60 to intersect FR895 North (the scenic and historic Thompson Mesa Road). This FR895 drive option North to a second trailhead hiking option would require a capable 4WD, high clearance vehicle with quality off-road tires.

For anyone interested in visiting this remote, less visited hiking area, I spent some time on HAZ- Route Cloud editing all the recommended drive, hike, and key waypoint details. Here they are for just this hike: [ Western Sierra Ancha Foothills :: map ]

Also Note:
For the FR895 scenic and historic Thompson Mesa area drive, we have a HAZ Hike Guide for [ Boyer Cabin Trail #148 ]

and [ Boyer Ridge ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Geographic Landmark Labels

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Armer Gulch Armer Mountain Asbestos Point Sierra Ancha Mountains South Fork Parker Creek Tank Creek Tanner Peak Tucker Box

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

3 archives

May 10 2015

CannondaleKid

Guides 44
Routes 162
Photos 24,766
Triplogs 2,411

75 male

Joined May 04 2004
Mesa, AZ

Boyer Ridge

Globe, AZ

Boyer Ridge

Globe, AZ

Hiking		May 10 2015
		CannondaleKid • Triplogs 2,411

Hiking	4.30 Miles	991 AEG

Hiking	4.30 Miles	2 Hrs 25 Mns		1.91 mph
	991 ft AEG	10 Mns Break	25 LBS Pack

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

trixiec

Unlike many of my hikes, while quite scenic this one provided nothing dramatic... unless you take into account Tracey putting her foot down in rebellion against the fields of fox-tails for the last stretch of the ridge.
:stop:

So she took to wandering around in circles in a fox-tail-free area while I made a quick trip to the summit for photos and video. Completely uneventful on the return trip, but still a nice first-thing-in-the-morning hike.

Panorama from the southwest end of Boyer Ridge

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Common Walkingstick

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bear Head Mountain Chubb Mountain Dutchwoman Butte Greenback Peak Little Cherry Creek Salome Canyon Creek Salome Mountain Thompson Mesa

_____________________

CannondaleKid

Mar 20 2010

Grasshopper

Guides 48
Routes 510
Photos 9,555
Triplogs 578

79 male

Joined Dec 28 2006
Scottsdale, AZ

Boyer Ridge

Globe, AZ

Boyer Ridge

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Mar 20 2010
		Grasshopper • Triplogs 578

Hiking	4.40 Miles	673 AEG

Hiking	4.40 Miles	3 Hrs 50 Mns	1.15 mph
	673 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

ssk44

A fun and rewarding day in a very remote area of the Tonto NF- "Salome Wilderness".

This day we visited the historic 1890 to ~1950 "Boyer Ranch and Cabin" complex along with a planned easy, scenic, and most enjoyable day hike up "Boyer Ridge" from the ranch complex to a scenic high bluff overlook area of Salome Creek and Canyon ~800ft straight down.

We took a considerable amount of time on the way up Boyer Ridge and at this bluff overlook area taking pics to document this hike area and taking in the views of strong flowing Salome Creek below with its remote upper canyon in the distance. Try it..you will like it too!

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Arizona Sycamore One-seed Juniper

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Boyer Canyon Boyer Ridge Chubb Mountain Greenback Peak Salome Canyon Creek Salome Mountain Salome Wilderness

_____________________

(Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!")

1 archive

Mar 20 2010

ssk44

Guides 20
Routes 12
Photos 2,343
Triplogs 298

51 male

Joined Mar 31 2008
Gilbert, AZ

Boyer Ridge

Globe, AZ

Boyer Ridge

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Mar 20 2010
		ssk44 • Triplogs 298

Hiking	3.60 Miles	575 AEG

Hiking	3.60 Miles
	575 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

Grasshopper

Sweet hike with pioneer history and a dramatic closing finale. It's worth the drive!!
:GB:

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Dripping Springs Quartzite

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Pioneer Industry Wooden Dwelling

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Salome Wilderness

Wildflowers Observation Light

_____________________

MATTHEW 11:28-30 / PSALM 84:1-2

3 archives

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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