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| Hiking | 7.22 Miles |
3,042 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.22 Miles | 5 Hrs 50 Mns | | 1.44 mph |
| 3,042 ft AEG | 50 Mns Break | 5 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | I threw out three choices to Linda, and she countered by choosing none of them. However, her counter worked out, as I hadn’t been there in a couple of years. Needing witnesses to document the abuse I endure for a future court date, I invited Speedgoats, Kelly, and John.
As Google advertised when we pulled into the lot, there was no parking structure, but there were gender-neutral bathrooms (porta-johns). We made our way to a mostly empty parking lot with a temperature of 39 degrees.
The approach to the Petroglyphs is my least favorite part of this hike, but does afford good views of our target. It's the part that 98% of people come for, but it’s rocky and boring. We passed a few people coming out as we were starting.
We enjoyed the empty Petroglyph area for a few moments until a clueless trio approached, not having a clue which mountain they were going to climb. That was the last time we saw them. After stopping John from creating his own drawings, we started our climb to the Balanced Rock area. The use trail was mostly easy to follow until we reached the rock. There was a finger trail that led us astray for a bit, until we consulted Route Scout. We lingered around the rock for a while and then began our ascent again. The last obstacle was a 15-foot climbing maneuver up a chute, then it was clear sailing to the magical, powder-free Fliver Disk.
After a short break, John got antsy, and we started our descent. We passed one solo hiker on his way up, then a mass of female hikers coming up from Carney.
On the ridgeline, we saw our first indications of the burn scar. For the most part, it stayed north of the trail.
Now on the Hieroglyphics Trail, it was an easy downhill follow. Approaching the Hieroglyphics area, we began to see the masses milling about—some asking if we made it to the top, some posing for the 'gram, and some wandering aimlessly.
We finished with a mostly full parking lot. Great temps throughout the day and bearable company.
Fauna seen:
0 snakes
0 deer
0 rabbits
0 javelinas
0 chipmunks
0 bears
0 honey badgers
numerous cougar |
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
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.
Looking good
The sun didn't hit me until the ridgeline and then only for part of the way. I was on Peak 5057 by 9 am and it hadn't warmed up yet. At that point I decided the loop would give me a better chance of seeing a gila monster so that was the exit plan. Coming down past Carney Spring about a few hundred yards before the Wave Cave turn off I saw a small gila monster on the trail. The hike back wasn't too bad. It was warm in the sun but the breeze was cool so a really nice day on trail.
This is where the trail kicks into high gear and really starts to impress. The canyon is wide on the sides but still narrow enough to feel closed inside. The landscape was fantastic. There was water flowing the entire time. The trail is always easy to follow either the path or numerous cairns lead the way. There are a few areas where there is a bit of scrambling needed but nothing too serious. As I gained elevation, I started coming across more and more snow. Some areas where the footing was not so good was made more tricky by all the small seeps that had turned into mini slip n slides. As I finally got to the top of the ridgeline I felt great satisfaction. The plan was to go up to 5057 but as I went on the northeast side of the first peak towards 5057, the snow and ice was just too slippery for me without the proper foot gear, so I had to turn around and almost ski on one foot back down to the saddle. It was super cool to see the Supes covered in snow and experience the canyon the whole time pretty much by myself. Only when I got back to the glyph area, did I realize how popular this place is. I could not believe the amount of people on that trail below the glyphs, on a weekday even! It is still fresh but I think this is my new favorite way up to the top now.
](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
So I decided to do this loop, mostly to burn the legs out 
