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| Hiking | 8.81 Miles |
2,382 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.81 Miles | 5 Hrs 44 Mns | | 1.67 mph |
| 2,382 ft AEG | 27 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Peralta road is in great condition, lots of dispersed campers along the sides of the road , imagine they are camping in a lot of dust! Met up with @LindaAnn who wanted to see caves but no roost. Parked at Peralta trail head , started off passing by the Don’s entrance with its decorative rock art and through the lot to start Lost Goldmine Trail, passed through the fence near Carney and encountered a small group at the Wave Cave junction, encountered no one else until arriving at Fremont Saddle. Made the side trip over to Shaka Cave, the use path was better than expected and the cave larger than I anticipated, nice views and location for living in, see Linda’s photos. Lost some of our elevation gain to return to the trail up West Boulder Saddle. We conquered this beast as well as possible though I don’t recall much of it in my hypoxic fugue state,I thought I heard things said like early dismissal ,your not dying today , this isn’t Cactus to Clouds, getting closer etc. I think I did my usual stellar job of reducing Linda’s mph average! Enjoyed nice views toward 5057 and West Boulder Canyon after the hard work was done. Had a great back seat driver to get me over to the top of Dacite Mesa where we had a snack break. Love the views and hoodoo fantasy land up here, same weather of off and on winds and sun continued. Once heading toward Fremont Saddle the nice views of Peralta Canyon and Weavers needle entertained us, on arrival there a small number of hikers were present but we quickly went by them. Started going down Cave Trail where we saw no one else until Bluff Saddle Trail . The cairn farm has not been resurrected, we hopped up to Geronimo’s Cave and looked around Linda pointed out a natural formation of a Dali like skull. Further along Cave Trail I showed Linda a rock with a fulcrum that acts like a see saw , she was really impressed  . Skeptical at first she went along with cutting over to Dutchman Trail via the non existent Don’s Trail. Parking lot was quite full and busy when we returned in the early afternoon. On the drive out started seeing parked cars shortly after passing Lost Goldmine east lot, all the way to Carney, guessing the Wave Cave was busy. Despite threatening clouds no rain until a little spitting towards the end, another nice day to enjoy some exercise outdoors with beautiful views and company. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Paint brush,hedgehog cactus |
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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 
More vehicles at TH than when I did this 3 years ago. Start hike at 10:30. Guy in vehicle next to us was starting for 5057 at the same time. 
I took a break at the false saddle, then another at West Boulder Saddle before continuing on.
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.
