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| | | Parker - Rim - Moody Loop, AZ | | | |
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Parker - Rim - Moody Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 14.96 Miles |
3,221 AEG |
| | Hiking | 14.96 Miles | 9 Hrs 4 Mns | | 1.90 mph |
| 3,221 ft AEG | 1 Hour 12 Mns Break | 10 LBS Pack | | |
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| partners | | This was a last-minute Plan B. Flag was forecast to have a 50% chance of showers (no problem), with cold temps (a bit more of a problem) and high winds (read: wet + wind = wind-chill). As it turns out, it was probably the better of the two options in the mix.
Parker Creek Trail #160
On the plus side, great views, decent grade, and much shade from the sun. If cleared, this is probably my favorite Ancha trail.
Long pants and a shirt are a must. This trail has had some maintenance, but it is overgrown in many spots. The lower 1/3 to 1/2 is a poison ivy minefield, some of it face-high. All three verified snake sightings for the day were on this trail. Joe jumped at many more that ended up being sticks or shadows. The humidity was brutal on the morning climb.
Rim Trail #139 - Sierra Ancha
I remembered this trail had some recent clearing, but could not remember where. Not on what we did. This trail has so much promise, but it was non-existent in many places. You should have the official HAZ route loaded if you are going to attempt it. Keep an eye out for cairns. An added bonus for this section were foxtails! Towards the Moody Point Trail, we got off trail. We decided to shortcut uphill with more off-trail up to the Moody Point Trail. It worked out, saving us time and distance.
Moody Point Trail #140
I had high hopes for this section of trail. I never imagined that hiking through ferns could/would impede travel. Being thicker than the humidity at the beginning of the hike, it was deceptively slow going through the 6-foot-tall ferns. Add downed trees, New Mexican Locust, and patches of poison ivy, and we had all the makings of a whine-fest. The only bonus was a relatively new camo rain poncho found close to the upper third of the trail. If it's yours, I packed it out, let me know.
The gentle downhill road walk to get back to Parker Creek Trail was sheer bliss.
Trail clearing was evident from the last time we were through here. I picked up my cached and needed electrolyte drink at the #139 intersection, and we completed our last climb to the Parker Creek saddle.
It seemed the 3 miles to the car took forever. All the overgrowth is at least friendly and easy to go through, keeping a keen eye out for poison ivy.
Note to self: Stay away from the Rim Trail and Moody Point Trail until they have been cleared. It's nowhere near worth the effort currently.
We lucked out on the ride home. Route 60 is closed Tuesday-Thursday, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., for blasting related to the bridge replacement in Superior. I read after I got home that they actually had it closed until 5:15 p.m. because of the need to verify safety after blasting. There must have been quite the backup, which was luckily gone by the time we got there. |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
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