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| | | Reynolds Creek - Center Mountain, AZ | | | |
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Reynolds Creek - Center Mountain, AZ
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| Hiking | 6.80 Miles |
1,665 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.80 Miles | 4 Hrs 35 Mns | | 1.57 mph |
| 1,665 ft AEG | 15 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | It's been a few years since our Center Mountain hike while camping at the Billy Lawrence TH, so why not check out all the trail work done by @AnchaGladtrailz by hitting up Center Mountain from the other direction?
We got an early start from home but being a few days prior to the first full closures on the US 60 past Superior, we had no worries.
The gravel part of AZ 288 was in great shape and Forest Road #410 out to Reynolds TH was good, with only a few rocky spots and a few wet creek crossings, at just over 2 hours and 15 minutes we were ready to hit the trail.
The only time we had previously been on this West part of Reynolds Creek Trail #150 was 6 years ago when we had hiked along the old Forest Road #3222 from our campsite at Honey Creek Divide. At that time Reynolds was so bad we bailed out on it within just over a quarter-mile.
Today the trail began easy enough... once you found it, as the sign was hidden a few hundred feet from the parking area. It wasn't far past the first switchback before I started to get a queasy feeling... why it has progressed with age I have no idea, but anything with any exposure and I get vertigo. So when we reached the narrow path along the cliffs it was all I could do to keep my focus on taking the next step. As shaky as I felt my trekking poles were a great aid to keep me stable. Even so I breathed a sigh of relief the moment we were free of the exposure.
The scenery became familiar as soon as we began the ascent on Center Mountain Trail #142. On the way up the East side of the drainage I spotted an animal ahead where a ray of sun managed to reach the ground. The sun made it look like the golden-brown coat was glowing, and in that instant I wondered, what the heck is it? Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo as a moment later it was out of the sun and ascending the slope to the right. While tracking its movement with my camera, hoping for an opportunity for a clear shot, I caught more movement off to the side, which turned out to be two more of the same kind of animal. But again, whenever I had a somewhat clear view, the camera would not focus fast enough for a clean shot.
It took us a while to come up with a consensus of what the animals were, and we decided they were badgers. As we reached where I spotted the first one, there was a fresh pile of scat, and based on research of that evidence, once we got home it confirmed our badger identification.
Onward and upward... as we were climbing a particularly rock area shortly after turning-the-corner at the first viewpoint over Cherry Creek, in the split-second after spotting an Arizona Black Rattlesnake on the trail about 10' ahead I was already reaching for my camera. Unfortunately, a LOUD yell from behind scared me AND the rattler, spoiling the shot
(Note, I wasn't scared of the rattler, I was startled by the yell from Tracey, thinking it was in response to a higher danger, which in a flash brought up memories of our bear encounter barely a mile away, albeit some 6 years ago)
Anyway, in an instant the rattler descended into a gap between rocks on the side of the trail. And now I had to coax get Tracey... its no longer in sight, just walk on by. Again, it resurrected memories of our first Arizona Black encounter a solid 14 year ago, down near the Cold Spring Canyon crack-house.
Danger averted, let's move on. To calm the nerves we stopped for a very short snack break at another Cherry Creek overlook before continuing on. By then I didn't feel like descending to the Lucky Strike Trail only to climb back up on the return, so I figured we'd see if there was water in the tank that on Satellite view appeared to be at the 7521 marked elevation of Center Mountain. Sure enough there was a tank and it had water. I wandered over to a cairn I spotted a short distance away, thinking maybe there's a log, even though it is not the highest spot on Center Mountain. While there was an open space in the stack of rocks, alas it was empty.
Ok, time to head back. Of course as we passed the areas of activity (rattler as well as the badgers) we'd take a glance around no more drama was to be found. Our plan for a real lunch break was where we took an extended rest break two years ago, a spot of bare rock in the drainage just off the trail. Although I kept looking toward the drainage for just the right spot, we were well past it before realizing/remembering it wasn't 'right next to' the trail, but a short scramble. Oh well, we'll stop for lunch at the bottom of the drainage, where we returned to the Center Mountain Trail from the ridge above.
The rest of the return trip should have been easy enough, but I had a bit more unease at the cliff switchbacks due to my by-now loudly complaining right hip. The descents had not been kind and the joint felt like it was on fire, but being what has become the new norm, so I ignored it as much as possible. Once done with the switchbacks I paid more attention to the scenery so that helped.
Overall, we had perfect weather and it was great to be back in the Ancha's. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
It's the Ancha's, nothing is ever easy. Arrived at the Reynolds Creek TH a little after 8 and fortunately, no one had decided to camp there, as sometimes is the case. Headed up the trail, making a quick stop at the waterfall, which had a small trickle, which was not unexpected with the lack of rain. Took a quick break at the Reynolds/Center Mountain junction and continued. The lower portion of Reynolds has had some recent maintenance and was pretty clear, except for a good amount of friendly leaves of three, which was easy to get past if you were careful; however, the Center Mountain trail right past the junction was a Raspberry torture fest. We continued up, going off-trail where we thought the location was. After some time trying to find a way down the cliffside that did not include a 1,500-foot fall that may include a broken bone or two, we decided to backtrack a half mile to try a different route. This route involved a pretty easy off-trail route initially through a wash, which then turned to a Manzanita forest bushwhack to a saddle, which then took us to another saddle. We spotted another cave (not the one we were looking for) and spent some time looking at the ledge from the saddle we were on in the direction of the ruins. After looking at a couple of different options, we decided to turn back as some of us were not comfortable with the exposure. So, back through the Manzanita forest and Raspberry torture fest we went. While we were not able to get to the ruins this time, we will be back at some point to give it another shot. Saw tons of deer and no other humans, which is perfect. Just another 'easy' day in the Sierra Anchas. 
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