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| | | Josephine Saddle loop from Amphitheater, AZ | | | |
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Josephine Saddle loop from Amphitheater, AZ
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| Hiking | 8.89 Miles |
2,507 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.89 Miles | 5 Hrs 6 Mns | | 2.02 mph |
| 2,507 ft AEG | 42 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Didn’t have a particular agenda today, which was a good thing since the road in Madera Canyon was closed at the Amphitheater lot. I was the first one there at about 9:15.
I picked up the Nature Trail and headed to the Roundup lot. There was patchy ice on the trail but I had no issues. From there I studied a map to see what I could do. There wasn’t time for Wrightson, but I figured I could make Josephine Saddle via Baldy for an early lunch, then take Super to Pipeline to Kent back to the car.
Below 6000’ was patchy ice; I’d brought spikes but never felt the need for them. Above 6000’ was fresh powder and no ice, which made the going easier. Well, easier than patchy ice. The snow definitely added a bit to the workout.
Only one set of prints in the snow besides mine. The fellow ahead of me went up Baldy toward the summit, while I stopped at the saddle for a hot lunch.
After lunch I headed down super, which had no prints from humans but lots of wildlife: bunnies, deer, small pawed things not bunnies, and a healthy mountain lion.
Sprung Spring was completely full but frozen solid.
About a half mile or so below the saddle I met several deer, some with antlers. One of the bucks seemed a little perturbed with me, snorting and stamping his feet while approaching me, so I stopped gawking and resumed my descent.
The shortcut to Pipeline recorded on HAZ was not my usual connection, and far less pleasant. It felt more like an animal trail and was quite steep in places, which meant sliding in the snow and getting my socks wet. It was new to me so of course I had to take it, but I think once was enough.
Pipeline was beautiful as always. I was dreading Kent, but with the snow it wasn’t too bad. Fewer issues with loose rocks.
The connector trail back to the parking lot was nice; because it is less often used the patchy snow wasn’t icy like it was on the Nature Trail or low on Baldy.
Made it back to the car by 2:30, and the parking lot was full. |
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Madera Spring |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| |  Large pools and trickling clear water. Easy place to tank up! | | | |
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I was the only person in the eight casitas and my new friends were the only ones in the six cabins the first night, with just a couple more arrivals the second night. Office has a book lending library and a large selection of dvds - I borrowed a book about the 1958 boy scout tragedy on Wrightson - it was a good read.
). Super wet of course, and what I saw did not disappoint! 
I sampled a few of the trails, as well as the area down by Proctor Road. It was a mo(i)st enjoyable day. After the prolonged drought we had been through until the first of July, this was truly a blessing. 
