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Mineral Springs Trail and then Some - 2 members in 12 triplogs have rated this an average 4 ( 1 to 5 best )
12 triplogs
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Aug 01 2014
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Mineral Springs Single TrackSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Single Track
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Aug 01 2014
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Hiking8.90 Miles 3,670 AEG
Hiking8.90 Miles
3,670 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Little Mineral Springs Trail
Indian Wells Trail
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Partners none no partners
First day of August's month of GPS tracking...

Rain and very low cloud cover (within 500' elevation gain hey were below me!)... dead air and muggy. But, all in all a very nice morning. In addition to the trails I planned to cover, I added one new route and another set on the other end of town.

Secondary goal each day is to hit somewhere around the 4,000'AEG mark... so, do the various tracking hikes then hit the "A" trail for elevation lap to round out that part of the day.

Or... go hit a route I need a GPS track on; that's what I did today: Alamo Point... Cave Canyon. Pleasant surprise to find a real Trailhead sign down in Alamo Canyon; About time!!

Home: downloaded GPS Tracks... got them edited on my Map. downloaded 150 pictures; edited and organized with an additional organizational twist that may make it easier to load them to HAZ and Google+ (...Picasa not syncing with Google+ lately...?)

Have not made it to the odds and ends: Map link edits, Map ridge route edits... Map cropping?

Also: I need to load pics to HAZ; I'll do that right after I submit a new trail description...

Then, there is the task of getting the GPS routes on to the HAZ site... nice if I could just finish the Map and send it over all at once!

One day down... 30 to go?
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Jul 16 2014
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Lost Trail Drainage NorthSoutheast, NM
Lost Trail Drainage North
Southeast, NM
Canyoneering avatar Jul 16 2014
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Canyoneering14.60 Miles 5,000 AEG
Canyoneering14.60 Miles
5,000 ft AEG
Canyon Hiking - Non-technical; no rope; easy scrambling; occasional hand use
A - Dry or little water; shallow or avoidable water; no wet/dry suit
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Ortega/Dry Canyon Traverse
Dry Canyon Trail #5574
Lost Trail Canyon North North Spur
Mineral Springs Single Track
Partners none no partners
Muggy... just not nice heavy humidity!

I drove to the trailhead early, then decided to move over to something a bit easier and hopefully more interesting. I headed out n light rain wearing a parka, but immediately had to strip that off... just too oppressive in the dead air. Fortunately, the rain passed. Unfortunately, the dead air held on.

I walked up to the Indian Wells, then decided to head up Lost Trail Canyon North, with the intent of checking out the North Spur. It had been years since I'd drifted up this cut. I'd never hiked the Spur.

Very good choice; it was all good. The rock sculpturing was exceptional. The terminal dryfall included a nice staircase of rock to skirt the blockage on the right. The upper canyon held good, eventually giving way to the ridge that directly accessed the upper portion of Mineral Springs Trail.

Later in the day I paid closer attention to the mountain biker's single track route below the Springs. I discovered a number of new sections; effectively, it provides an alternative to the sucky jeep road that is the official trail. Great find!

So... I did not score the needed 8,000' AEg to stay on track for the month. I did manage to not just turn around and go home in response to the depressing weather. I scored some great hours out and about.

Sun finally came out... light breeze teased the edges of comfort now and then.

I be happy. :)
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Nov 08 2013
avatar

 Guides 1
 Photos 4
 Triplogs 158

66 female
 Joined Oct 14 2012
 nm
Mineral Springs Trail and then SomeSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Nov 08 2013
tarryon • Triplogs 158
Hiking5.00 Miles 1,700 AEG
Hiking5.00 Miles   4 Hrs      1.30 mph
1,700 ft AEG      10 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 no routesno photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Went up trail at east end of Indian Wells Road. Went to Indian Wells in the wash. The last time we did this we could not find the trail past this section. Found out this time it is not a clear trail. Just keep going up around north side of out crop. The trail does become clear.

At the top we could not find the section to traverse over to Mineral Springs. Ended up going off trail until we found the trail. It was clear to the spring and on back to vehicles.
_____________________
 
May 24 2013
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Lost Trail Drainage NorthSoutheast, NM
Lost Trail Drainage North
Southeast, NM
Canyoneering avatar May 24 2013
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Canyoneering9.00 Miles 2,600 AEG
Canyoneering9.00 Miles
2,600 ft AEG
Canyon Hiking - Non-technical; no rope; easy scrambling; occasional hand use
A - Dry or little water; shallow or avoidable water; no wet/dry suit
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Lost Trail - Lincoln NF
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Dark Mesa and Dark Mesa Peak
Dark Mesa Spur Trail
Little Mineral Springs Trail
Partners none no partners
...early start, headed up and over to Dry Canyon, but on the way... both some energy issues and the thought of doing the dull, open Dry. And, I was staring up and over at the Dark Mesa, upper and lower. That had appeal. I made the looping turn to carry me over to access that ridge.

It was a very nice hike... cacti blooming... shadows on cliffs... much like walking in and through a private desert park.

I was surprised to find that the upper Mesa was really just a peak. Though surrounded by dark cliffs, it lacked the substance I was expecting to be the upper Mesa... and, it had a use trail directly off of the Mineral Springs Trail.

Next, dropping down and past the Springs, I followed the real trail route down to the next pass and found access to the lower Mesa easy. I looped around the Mesa, noticing what appeared to be yet another trail down below and heading off to the south... it proved to be a great connecting Spur trail over to Little Mineral Springs trail. It was in great shape and covered with cacti in full magenta bloom.

I exited LMS trail down at the Indian Wells, and went off trail over to Lost Trail Canyon, and looped back to my car in that drainage.

It was not the harder day planned, but it was a great outing. New stuff... that seems to be what keeps me going of late. Now, for some stupid reason I did not take my camera along. So, got to redo the loop...
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Mar 26 2013
avatar

 Guides 73
 Routes 176
 Photos 10,174
 Triplogs 2,324

46 male
 Joined Sep 08 2006
 
Mineral Springs Trail and then SomeSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Mar 26 2013
Jim • Triplogs 2,324
Hiking14.00 Miles 3,150 AEG
Hiking14.00 Miles   5 Hrs   30 Mns   2.55 mph
3,150 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Ortega Peak
Partners none no partners
I had wanted to hike this since January and today presented itself as a fine early spring day to do so. It was nice, and while a little cool and windy it was fine over all. Probably not a viable summer route up Ortega, as it adds a lot of relatively pointless miles down in the hot desert stretches. Actually, coming down I found it slightly tedious. It is a real trail and a quiet area to hike in, but not a replacement for the A trail to Ortega. Not if a speedier hike is desired.

Some of the nicest parts could easily be enjoyed as an extension of the A Trail, and those are the ATV section of trail north of Ortega. Nice views, grassy terrain, and gently rolling hiking make it feel a bit like parts of the Gila. Just a tiny bit.

Hiked with a guy from Cloudcroft who came out on the Needle hike on Sunday. He brought a phone GPS or something, and it read 13.5 miles while we were still a little out. Then it died. Playing it safe, I'm calling this 14 miles. Clean prominence of the peak over the trailhead puts this at 3000', but as there is at least 100 foot of AEG from rolling terrain, I'm adding that in and making this 3150'. In truth, it is probably more, but this is what I am comfortable making the hike.
_____________________
🍭
 
Jan 24 2013
avatar

 Guides 73
 Routes 176
 Photos 10,174
 Triplogs 2,324

46 male
 Joined Sep 08 2006
 
Mineral Springs Trail and then SomeSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Jan 24 2013
Jim • Triplogs 2,324
Hiking7.00 Miles 2,200 AEG
Hiking7.00 Miles   3 Hrs   30 Mns   2.00 mph
2,200 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was a surprisingly fun and very rewarding hike. I really enjoyed both the sun and the peace and quiet. For being an urban hike, it was far from the city. Having a nice trail was a rare plus, too. I would say it combines the best features of Ortega and the Roundup Trail, but adds in more attractive surroundings, a better trail, and a warm south aspect. I encountered ATV tracks up top, but that was OK, and I thought I might use them to summit Ortega Peak the next time I do that. I think this is the scenic route to Ortega when tired of the rough A trail. Also, I liked the secluded nature of the trail, which had a little Tucson feel to it.


I surprised myself by going to the ridge and looking over into Dry Canyon. Also, the peak you hike around that sits just west of the ridge is interesting because it appears to be the same quartz monzonite that is found on the lower parts of the A trail, and in the Organ. Yet another example of why the rock in this ares is tilted towards Alamo and not cliffs as it is elsewhere.
_____________________
🍭
  1 archive
Jan 22 2013
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then SomeSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Jan 22 2013
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Hiking9.80 Miles 3,800 AEG
Hiking9.80 Miles
3,800 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
feels hot out!
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Oct 19 2011
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then SomeSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Oct 19 2011
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Hiking9.00 Miles 2,400 AEG
Hiking9.00 Miles
2,400 ft AEG27 LBS Pack
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
  1 archive
Nov 07 2010
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then SomeSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Nov 07 2010
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Hiking9.10 Miles 1,700 AEG
Hiking9.10 Miles
1,700 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Garden Wall
Partners none no partners
Checking out the Garden Wall... rock formation running along the south face of Beeman Ridge, looping around the north side of the Inner Basin. It turned out to be a nice route with a surprise: jeep track running for first 1.5 miles. I made the connection down a wash to connect with Mineral Springs trail, but really stayed in the drainage bottom for most of the distance. I need to check out all of these north end drainages; this one was nice!

Easy day...
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Oct 24 2010
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then SomeSoutheast, NM
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Oct 24 2010
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Hiking7.00 Miles 2,300 AEG
Hiking7.00 Miles
2,300 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Ortega Peak via Lost Trail Drainage
Little Mineral Springs Trail
Lost Trail - Lincoln NF
Partners none no partners
Afternoon loop up and around, checking out a couple of canyons to hike over the coming week.
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Sep 26 2010
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Indian Wells Trail via Indian Wells WashSoutheast, NM
Indian Wells Trail via Indian Wells Wash
Southeast, NM
Hiking avatar Sep 26 2010
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Hiking4.50 Miles 550 AEG
Hiking4.50 Miles
550 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Indian Wells Trail
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Partners none no partners
Interesting to discover this pleasant ramble right here on the edge of town... the official trail leaves a bit to be desired, but approaching from the off trail wash, and finishing up with the winding drainage crossings to Mineral Springs trail... makes for a nice couple of hours...
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
Feb 12 2010
avatar

 Guides 253
 Photos 6,930
 Triplogs 2,467

75 male
 Joined Nov 05 2008
 Cloudcroft, NM
Lost Trail Drainage NorthSoutheast, NM
Lost Trail Drainage North
Southeast, NM
Canyoneering avatar Feb 12 2010
imike • Triplogs 2,467
Canyoneering17.40 Miles 4,400 AEG
Canyoneering17.40 Miles   9 Hrs      1.93 mph
4,400 ft AEG
Canyon Hiking - Non-technical; no rope; easy scrambling; occasional hand use
A - Dry or little water; shallow or avoidable water; no wet/dry suit
I - Short 1-2 hours
 no routes
Linked   linked  
Ortega Peak
Ortega Peak via Lost Trail Drainage
Mineral Springs Trail and then Some
Partners none no partners
The early hours were pure fun, much like Rattlesnake Canyon near Tucson, then the up and over to exit the drainage was a leg burning 65-75% grade, then a simple wall out... or would have been simple if I could use my right arm. I can't, so more drama than was really there. After the canyon section I explored and discovered that there was a trail connection back down to the city that is not shown on the maps, so I hiked down 3.5 miles just to confirm where it would come out, then back up that 1700' to resume my hike on to Ortega Peak. Long, slow day. Began to feel good after 6 hours... probably scored 5 of the 9 hours off trail. nice day.
_____________________
Ageless Mind... Timeless Body... No Way! Use It and Lose It. Just the way it is...
 
average hiking speed 1.95 mph

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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