Parker Creek Trail #160 • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Nov 25 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

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We cleared the trail up to the first switchback past the rockfall.
[ youtube video ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

1 archive

Nov 18 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Nov 18 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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We cleared the trail to the rockfall, except for one tree we'll get next time. It rained since Tuesday, so who knows what may have blown down along the way since then?

[ youtube video ]

We sure miss our Tonto Basin friends!

1 archive

Nov 11 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Nov 11 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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Continuing to clear the trail up towards the rockfall. Maybe next time.
[ youtube video ]

1 archive

Oct 28 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Oct 28 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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From the hwy 288 overlook we continued clearing the trail a few turns and switchbacks up to the stretch that leads to the talus slope crossing. We were slowed down by a couple of real tough trees!

[ youtube video ]

NOTE: Hwy 288 will be closed next Tues-Thurs to repair the washout and install culverts. For us, that means no trip up there.

3 archives

Oct 21 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Oct 21 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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no partners

We now have the trail clear to the 288 overlook:
[ youtube video ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ - Hike HAZard Trail Maintenance

Oct 14 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Oct 14 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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Cleared the trail from the first switchback to the cascades. U.S. 60 was washed from the storm that day, so we had to take the long trek through Winkelman to get there. We came home via the Beeline Highway. Beautiful weather up there with Parker flowing nicely.
[ youtube video ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

Oct 07 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Oct 07 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Hiking	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Hiking	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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This was our first Sierra Ancha hike since July 17 when the Billy Fire was starting. Lots of burnt out moonscape and blowdowns as a result of the fire and storms. Unofficially, we had to clear away some of those blowdowns to get ourselves as far as the first switchback where we turned around. It was a little warm, and we both got tired of clearing all the fire aftermath. All in all, pretty fun hike.

[ youtube video ]

1 archive

Jul 17 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Jul 17 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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We planned on going to Reynolds Creek, but FR 410 was blocked off with firemen running around, so we turned around and drove back down to Parker, which never fails to deliver blown down trees. Sure enough, we found work to do! It was warmer, starting at the lower trailhead (5,050 ft), but as we reached higher elevations, shade and occasional clouds kept the heat at bay. I noticed a wave of heat on an exposed uphill climb before reaching the big rockfall and checked my thermometer to see it was over 90 degrees. Not liking the heat much, I turned around, and we made it back earlier than usual. We made good progress nonetheless.
[ youtube video ]

Feb 18 2025

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Feb 18 2025
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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We finished clearing Parker from the Hwy 288 trailhead to the marker post on the saddle yesterday. The weather was perfect for working. This hike is now ready for springtime!
[ youtube video ]
Thanks to our Tonto Basin friends for doing a lot of work on this trail!

1 archive

Dec 26 2024

00blackout

Routes 31
Photos 4,989
Triplogs 197

51 male

Joined Mar 14 2016
Gold Canyon, AZ

Globe, AZ

Hiking		Dec 26 2024
		00blackout • Triplogs 197

Hiking	11.10 Miles	1,698 AEG

Hiking	11.10 Miles	5 Hrs 35 Mns	1.99 mph
	1,698 ft AEG

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Moody Point Trail #140

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With a day off and with the recent clearing I headed up to the Ancha's to hike a nice little loop. Parked at Carr where it was 27 degrees and headed down Parker Creek. Once I got to the Rim Trail junction, I decided to take a side hike up to the top of the ridge of the Parker Creek Trail. The lower section has some grabby locust but nothing too horrible. Made it up to the ridge, took in the views, and headed back down. The trail is in great shape through here, the guys did a terrific job at cleaning, especially at Armor Corral Spring which I had to turn around at previously. After the small climb before Armor Corral, I did a small off-trail section to check out the rock window which was cool to see. Hiked around to the Moody junction and decided to take it east as I still had some time. Right off the bat, it's an overgrown brushy mess. It clears up here and there and gets better for a minute when the manzanitas come in but it goes to complete poop halfway through that and I decided I'd had enough. Took a break to refuel and made the blah climb up Moody as the clouds came in. Hiked 487 down to Carr as a light rain came in. Saw one tent off 487 on the way down, but no one else the entire day. This trail is currently in great shape and the views are excellent, If you have been thinking about hiking this now is the time. Thank you to AnchaGladtrailz for all of the hard work, it looks great!

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Hunt Spring Moody Point

	Hunt Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	wet around the spring.

Workman Creek Falls

Pools to trickle

_____________________

Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee.

Jun 27 2024

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,823
Photos 14,705
Triplogs 5,922

male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Parker - Rim - Moody Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jun 27 2024
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,922

Hiking	14.20 Miles	3,519 AEG

Hiking	14.20 Miles	9 Hrs 4 Mns	1.84 mph
	3,519 ft AEG	1 Hour 20 Mns Break

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[ checklist ] Arizona Blackberry Arizona Grape Mexican Elderberry Streambank wild hollyhock

Moody Point Trail #140

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The_Eagle

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

I suggested a figure eight loop we've tackled many times in the Ancha. Bruce wasn't keen on the undesirable 0.2-mi segment on that one and sought another option. At first, I was dumbfounded he was suggesting a loop I've come to associate with notable pain. Simply something New / Different holds a strong second for myself so before he came to his senses I agreed.

Parker Creek Trail #160
Parker TH is at 5k. 1 mi up, temp/humidity was a 7 out of 10 on ugh. The only catclaw is in the lower half mile, easily avoidable for a fit/alert boy scout... I nailed every limb on the return. While you could squeak by in shorts, there is a good stretch of pain-free push-aside vegetation. Poison ivy is an eye-opener, if this is the only trail you hike. 2 downed trees were easy to step over, and a third wasn't much tougher. I lucked out not stepping on a coiled-up rattler, that caught my eye midstep.

Rim Trail #139 - Sierra Ancha
The trail of concern and curiosity arrived. We took a break at the campsite soon after the trail began. There is one bad tenth of a mile overgrown en route to the two nice edge views with towering pines behind.

Juiced up on life-is-good keeps the vibes positive until Armor Corral Spring. It doesn't look bad on satellite and if you follow the Official Route you miss the worst. Continuing, you shake off that blip, enjoy 4G, and ponder what exactly is the trail at times. Cairns reappear, hope is rejuvenated, and if you follow the dashed topo line it might work. We repeated a past mistake, cursed at ourselves for doing so, and carefully moved over the densest blood-sucking vegetation. It is so fn-dense that the ground below is unknown for mini stretches.

Bruce noticed on RS that Moody was nearby above us. Based on the vegetation my initial thought was hell no until I checked the distance back to #139. It wasn't looking good until I took a chance on an offshoot clearing, adrenaline kicked in and we were on Moody soon after.

Moody Point Trail #140
Joy was short-lived. Vegetation was either push-aside the locust or wading 6-8 foot flopped over ferns that hid ground/trail clues. Thick poison ivy for several stretches. After a smidgen up the mile we needed to tackle, we had lunch in a semi-shady area serenaded by a chipper warbler vireo. After playing the role of the bushwhacker nearly all day, Bruce took a stab.

Parker Lewis Can't Lose
The full stretch down Parker offered the best light wind but I was tapped out. A rattler jumped across the trail in front of me going up-slope. It appeared to be tossed sideways, found a nook, and rattled back. A minute later a 5 to 6 ft long slender racer? yellow-stripe darted across and down-slope. Had a bear run by a minute later, it would have seemed par for the course.

Synopsis
It was a great hike

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Arizona Black Rattlesnake

Wildflowers Observation Light
Large bush flowers opened up late afternoon on Parker.

	Armor Corral Spring	Dry	Dry
	If you find it, you win

_____________________

- joe

Jun 27 2024

The_Eagle

Guides 42
Routes 1,699
Photos 15,295
Triplogs 2,830

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Parker - Rim - Moody Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jun 27 2024
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,830

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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linked

[ checklist ] New Mexico Raspberry Poison Ivy Streambank wild hollyhock

Moody Point Trail #140

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joebartels

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

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.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Wildflowers Observation Light

South Fork Parker Creek

Pools to trickle

Upper South Fork Parker Creek

Pools to trickle

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

May 26 2024

chumley

Guides 94
Routes 845
Photos 22,401
Triplogs 2,021

52 male

Joined Sep 18 2002
Tempe, AZ

Ancha Rim Loop, AZ

Hiking		May 26 2024
		chumley • Triplogs 2,021

Hiking	12.86 Miles	2,566 AEG

Hiking	12.86 Miles	6 Hrs 11 Mns	2.28 mph
	2,566 ft AEG	33 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Abbey's Way Trail #151

Aztec Peak via Abbey's Way 151 Loop

Murphy Mtn Viewpoints/Summit - Sierra Ancha

Reynolds Creek Trail #150

Murphy Ranch Trail #141

Rim TR 139 to Coon Creek Cny Overlooks

[ checklist ] Arizona Black Rattlesnake Western Tent Caterpillar

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partners

BiFrost

@fotg sent me a message asking if I wanted to walk on Sunday. He suggested the Ancha partially to avoid the holiday weekend pooeyshow elsewhere, and partially because he said that all the trails out here have been recently cleared. It seemed like a good plan. After a few hours looking at rocks on Saturday, exhaustion overwhelmed the poor guy and he opted out of this one.

But Karl was up for Lee's plan, so we headed off at the crack of not particularly early.

Abbey's Way 151: Good condition and a nice way to get the heart beating to start the day.

Murphy Mtn: About as easy as off-trail gets. Very nice, and I found Ref#1. Apparently #2 is there too, but I came up empty. The datasheet says the main marker is 14" below the surface. There were a couple of fliver holes up there, but neither was in line with the ref arrow, so seemed odd.

Reynolds 150: The short stretch we were on has not seen recent trailwork, and was the first interaction with locust today.

Murphy 141: This must be where @anchagladtrailz has been. It's as nice as any trail in this range has ever been. Thanks!

Rim 139: 6.5 miles of straight pumpkinery. Brushy areas of overgrown locust. Open areas of undefined tread. Oh, and just for fun, thigh-high poison ivy.

Parker 160: Back to some level of trail maintenance. A nice change of pace for the final mile back up to the road.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Mint New Mexico Locust Poison Ivy

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Fire Lookout Structures Reference Mark

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Aztec Peak Murphy - Aztec Peak Quad Murphy Ranch Peterson Ranch

_____________________

I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies.

1 archive

May 26 2024

BiFrost

Guides 4
Routes 492
Photos 10,980
Triplogs 1,279

56 male

Joined Nov 20 2012
Phoenix, AZ

Ancha Rim Loop, AZ

Hiking		May 26 2024
		BiFrost • Triplogs 1,279

Hiking	12.86 Miles	2,566 AEG

Hiking	12.86 Miles	6 Hrs 11 Mns	2.28 mph
	2,566 ft AEG	33 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

9 linked trail guides

Abbey's Way Trail #151

Aztec Peak via Abbey's Way 151 Loop

Murphy Mtn Viewpoints/Summit - Sierra Ancha

Reynolds Creek Trail #150

Murphy Ranch Trail #141

Rim TR 139 to Coon Creek Cny Overlooks

Partners

partners

chumley

Good loop in the Sierra Ancha and have not been on some sections up there in many years. Specifically the rim trail was part I had not seen since before the fire. I remember it as a Ponderosa park on the rim but unfortunately the fire really did a number on the area. That said there has been some recent trail work on parts of the loop that made for some enjoyable tread thanks to @AnchaGladtrailz for the tough work.

Of course did a drive by to the Aztec Peak and the tower before doing a bit of off trail getting back to the rim and eventually liking up with the Rim Trail. Followed the Rim Trail until we were able to circle back to the Abbey Way Trail and complete the loop.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Arizona Black Rattlesnake

_____________________

1 archive

Dec 17 2023

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Dec 17 2023
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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We cleared the rest of the Parker Creek Trail from the fr #487 trailhead to across the saddle. That trailhead may be snowed in this week, hence the Sunday trip. There is still the section from the other side of the saddle down to the scree slope to be looked at soon.
[ youtube video ]

12/30 UPDATE: I heard back from the TB group on the 22nd. They hiked from the SR 288 trailhead to Dixon Saddle and reported that it's clear all the way. This means that aside from any new blowdowns, Parker Creek #160 is now clear from the SR 288 trailhead to the FR 487 trailhead.

Give it a try when you can and let us know!

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] HAZ - Hike HAZard Trail Maintenance

1 archive

Dec 14 2023

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Volunteer		Dec 14 2023
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Volunteer	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Volunteer	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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With a little (alot) help from our friends, we worked Parker Creek from both the top and bottom trailheads. A couple of us cleared from the 487 trailhead to Dixon Saddle, leaving two large trees just before the saddle to get next time. The other group worked from the 288 trailhead to the scree slope clearing out 10 trees from the burn area.
[ youtube video ]

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

1 archive

Nov 30 2023

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Walk / Tour		Nov 30 2023
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Walk / Tour	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Walk / Tour	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

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We drove to the upper Parker Creek trailhead off Forest Road #487 just past Abbey's Way and started working down this upper portion of the trail. There were signs of some work done fairly recently, and with that and some extra help, it wasn't hard to clear the trail down to the Rim Trail #139 junction. It looks like one more trip will get us to the lower portion of the Parker Creek trail below Dixon Saddle where we worked to last spring. The cool weather was perfect for doing some hard trail clearing.

[ youtube video ]

7 archives

May 24 2023

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

Globe, AZ

Hiking		May 24 2023
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Hiking	2.00 Miles	2,788 AEG

Hiking	2.00 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

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I took dog Zoe up for a test hike on the Parker Creek Trail #160. We got off to a late start, so that first half mile was pretty warm. Once we passed that first little switchback it cooled right off. We checked out the waterfall past the gaging station that was roaring last month. It was now down to a trickle. We did spot this beautiful Arizona Mountain Kingsnake.
[ youtube video ]
These are beautiful creatures!

1 archive

May 10 2023

Photos 1,062
Triplogs 81

73 male

Joined May 17 2022
Scottsdale, Ariz

[ checklist ] Arizona Valerian False Solomon's Seal Nelson's Larkspur Western Wallflower

Globe, AZ

Hiking		May 10 2023
		AnchaGladtrailz • Triplogs 81

Hiking	4.50 Miles	2,788 AEG

Hiking	4.50 Miles
	2,788 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

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On Wednesday we finished clearing deadfall from the Parker Creek Trail #160 all the way up to the memorial at Dixon Saddle. The weather was perfect for trail clearing, with light rains in the morning and cool temperatures at the higher elevations in the afternoon. We took advantage of the longer, cooler day to get it all done. Many thanks to the other volunteer group we leapfrogged trips with over the past few months. It was a great experience, and this beautiful trail is now ready for hiking!
[ youtube video ]
Regarding the memorial at the saddle, here is some information I found on Joe Schallan's flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/thelostdu ... otostream/

Memorial to Norwin L. Dixon, 1925-1999
After topping out, Trail 160 enters a level area that forms a saddle between the Parker South Fork drainage and the Coon Creek drainage. The 1986 Aztec Peak Quadrangle marks this small, flat area as having an elevation of 6896 feet, and in the middle of it one finds this cross made of strap steel and rebar. It has been placed here as a memorial to Mr. Norwin L. Dixon, who became separated from his group and disappeared while hiking along the South Fork of Parker Creek on April 24, 1999. An extensive ground and air search failed to locate him.
Mr. Dixon was a longtime resident of Coolidge, Arizona, where he had been an accountant and businessman, a city councilman and vice-mayor, and a member of various civic and church groups. My thanks to Mr. Bill Pitterle, of Tonto Rim Search and Rescue, Strawberry, Arizona, for identifying Mr. Dixon for me. An obituary for Mr. Dixon appeared in the May 18, 2000 edition of the Coolidge Examiner.

The cross is no longer there, just the post shown in my photoset. Thank you for the information, Joe.
[ photo ]

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Talus

Culture

Culture [ checklist ]

Wildflowers Observation Moderate

5 archives

Apr 21 2023

rayhuston

Guides 1
Routes 473
Photos 4,415
Triplogs 964

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ