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| | | Dreamy Draw Two Shoe Loop, AZ | | | |
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Dreamy Draw Two Shoe Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 4.80 Miles |
796 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.80 Miles | 2 Hrs 11 Mns | | 2.48 mph |
| 796 ft AEG | 15 Mns Break | | | |
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| Partners |
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none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Turned into tourist day for me as I helped a group of four decide on where to go as I caught up to them when we reached A1 (not sure if it has a name) and they weren't sure where to go. I told them where I was going and that once they got out in the area to just turn left when they were ready to get back to the TH.
As I got to the trail that takes you to the Shoes, I encountered another gentleman who was trying to figure out how to finish off this loop he had copied from All Trails. He showed it to me and I just shook my head. I gave him the All Trails lecture. Then the other four joined us and they had a much better map. I tried to help to figure out how to get the gentleman to where he wanted to go which was via VOAZ. I didn't want him to go down the Irregular as he was elderly.
After discussion, we all ended up going the VOAZ route. Come to find out, this elderly man from Minnesota was 80  . Needless to say I was impressed as he knocked out the VOAZ at about my pace; and I wasn't really in the mood for much elevation today (I think yesterday's evening barbell class wore me down before I started, ha!). Anyway, I was glad to be able to follow him up the mountain. He did trip a lot but seemed to manage control. I sat with him at the saddle while he drank some water and re-grouped. I told him I would wait for the others.
When the others arrived, I learened they were all from Boston, altho one couple has been in the Valley for five years. I told them the option I was hiking and that it would be about another 3 miles or so. They opted to take VOAZ back down and go back from there. We talked a little more and I took their picture for them. They were surprised I was from Montana as they said most people they run into are from the Midwest. Stay tuned for the rest of the story.
We parted ways and I headed down the southside. The breeze seemed to pick up so I enjoyed that. I saw the 80 year old hiker heading up 302 so I was glad he found his way. I hope he was able to reunite with his wife, once she figured out where he was. I headed up the high side of the 1a shoe. I really noticed the quartzy section with the desert flora as I got to the top of the Perl Charles Shoe.
As I headed west I dreaded that one short hill that seems to go straight up, but it wasn't really bad at all. I haven't been up this little hill in a while. I continued west on 1a past VOAZ and Irreg C and then around to hook up eventually with the Dreamy Draw Trail and ... wait, where have you guys been? I ran into the four hikers. They really weren't sure how they got there and if they were on the right trail. So off we went up and over the hill to hook up with Dreamy Draw Loop.
We got separated as the one couple got ahead of us and then I realized we were going the longer way around the loop instead of the cut off; but, no matter as we would end up in the same place. The couple with me seemed fine with that though. We said our goodbyes where the nice restrooms were. They were heading to the Biltmore. I told them that's where I first worked when I came here in 1981.
Anyway, it was a delight to have some folks to hike with off and on. It made the hike less arduous and more fun.
WATCH 4.88 miles, 2:33-5:07PM, 132 avg bpm/162 max, 45% Zone 5 max, 36% Zone 4 anaerobic, 7% Zone 3 aerobic, 11% Zone 2 (weight control) burning 1039 calories (WOW, and FYI bag of Fritos 480 and share size Pbutter M&Ms 420), 1393-1961 elevation.
TEMP 69.8 sunny, 11% humidity, 6.2mph wind from WNW. |
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Wildflowers Observation None
Ocotillos leafed and flowers on south side of VOAZ |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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