|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 9.34 Miles |
3,341 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.34 Miles | 9 Hrs 21 Mns | | 1.18 mph |
| 3,341 ft AEG | 1 Hour 27 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | I started out wanting to hit Robbers Roost, but Jason mentioned going up to Three Sisters instead. That then morphed into going to 5057.
We arrived at the Carney Trailhead a little past 7am and there was already 10-15 vehicles already parked. It was a little chilly and I had to deploy another layer before heading out.
It’s been a while since I have been up Carney and I knew it would kick my butt. I was also prepared for the beating the Ridgeline Trail would give me going up to the Sisters as well.
It was a slow slog up to the Carney saddle, but we survived! The up and down of the trail going to the Boulder Saddle was nice. It looks like there are a couple of paths along this now. Once you get to the last little ridge, the trail gets unclear as it has been every time I’ve been up there. Looking across to the trail along the base of the Sisters, we could see the extreme fire damage done from the Siphon Fire.
The trail is clear from the saddle all the way up to the peak because just about everything was roasted. Some sections of this trail were moonscape. The last time I was up here in back in 2021, the effects of the Superstition Fire were still evident, but the grass had reclaimed the hillsides. I remember it being waist high along much of the path. That’s what fueled this latest fire. The new “normal” for this area now, I guess. It doesn’t take much for a fire to run right across the entire hillside because of the grass. There were still some sections that were spared, but this area has definitely been transformed into grassland now.
We took the bypass trail up to the Sisters saddle. This area was roasted as well. We took in the usual views. I ventured out as far as I dared to each spot and took my obligatory photos of the amazing views.
After taking a little break, we started up towards the 5057 summit. The trail was roasted all the way. In some spots, the trail is very precarious and is just a narrow strip along the slope with no vegetation to be seen. A good rainfall would wipe out big sections of this part of the Ridgeline Trail as there is nothing holding it to the hillside.
We made it to the base and turned off to make the final climb up. That’s a fun part as well with the climbing and rock sections. I always forget how getting to the actual summit is a little crazy. I made it up and got my views/photos.
It got a little busy while I was hiking down, 4 other groups passed me up going up.
We took a lunch break amongst the spires below the summit and enjoyed the nice weather.
The hike down was not as bad as we expected. The loose, rocky, steep and exposed trail is easier when gravity is your friend.
We made it down without too many issues, but we both were feeling it at the end. This hike extracts a price for sure. Carney is steep, the Ridgeline between the saddle and the Three Sisters has some crazy steep sections and the last mile up from there is not flat either. Then, you get to turn around and go back down all of that. We finish off this one at a slowpoke pace, but we survived to hike another day. I am happy I can still do these tougher ones and it will be a sad when can no longer do them. A great day in the Supes for sure. |
| _____________________
"Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul."
instagram: @andydilling |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Made it to the saddle and took a break. Right after passing the headwaters of West Boulder Canyon, the Siphon Fire burn area started, roasting almost everything up to Three Sisters and Peak 5057. We climbed up and visited the Three Sisters for a bit before continuing the climb up to 5057. The trail after Three Sisters is steep with no room for error and I have a pretty bad fear of heights from one story fall when I was a kid, my anxiety kicked in here and my pace slowed to a crawl trying not to look down 
. We spent some time at the peak taking in the views where several other groups also came out, before heading back down. Came across a couple of groups on the ridgeline including a guy who was sitting at the 5057 junction lost (he was using All Fails of course lol), and wanted to know how to get back down, apparently he was doing the Hiero loop. The toughest hike I've done in a while but the views are phenomenal.
Route 
Hieroglyphic Spring was still slightly trickling, but funky like usual. I'd guess the families and kids that only make it this far still think it's everything is awesome. It was enjoyable ascending the canyon for once without an obscene number of cairns along the way. Perhaps people are catching on that a duck every five feet really isn't necessary (reference the Wave Cave arrows erased for more context). It also was nice to experience the Supes in mid-May with all the wildflowers and fresh leaf outs. The heat usually keeps me away, but today had substantial wildflowers. The flaming yellow and red Dudleya stalks were peaking. I reached the summit in two hours and speaking of culmination, there was an entomology orgy of flying ants, bee flies and tarantula hawks circling. The former two groups were dive bombing and getting spunky with each other, where the ants were antisocial and not crossing over to the other species. 
I was at the West Boulder Saddle before eight, about three hours into the hike, where there was still some good shade at the pass. After this brief and final break, the stretch dash got hot. Along Goldmine was the only place I saw another person, which was south of Turks Head. She had just turned around, informing me that half her water supply was gone, and she wouldn't be finding the bygone gold mine. Definitely a better, more diverse, scenic and challenging loop than the intensive forest bath of the 
Strep throat infection and also had to work some. 
On the early drive east, one of the US60 road signs was displaying AZ88 closed - rocks on the road. 
(perhaps it displays that always). I suppose we're not doing any hikes from the Canyon Lake area. As sunrise broke, one could see that the NW Supes were getting some action, lots of lightning and rain. I settled on the Hieroglyphic TH because I had my car. We chose CCW because the lightning was very active up on the ridgeline. Usually I'd complete this great hike at a brisker pace, but Dese and I had to shelter three times total, as each wave of rain rolled through with the accompanying and uncomfortably close lightning strikes. The final wave soaked us to the bone, but the sun emerged quickly afterwards. We dried out nearing the 5057 summit. It would of been nice to relax longer there, but swarming termite orgies just aren't my thing. On the descent, a large Coatimundi band crossed in front of us. There were at least three, small young ones (so cute) in the group and they all bristled orange. I've never been able to get a good pic of Coatimundi. Another large adult and one baby crossed behind us after we passed. They look like little monkeys easily scrambling the Supes' rocky terrain. This was a tough hike for Dese, but she powered through. She'll get a good rest this weekend because she isn't allowed to hike in the Grand.
