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3 triplogs
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Apr 26 2024
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 Routes 1
 Photos 52
 Triplogs 3

53 male
 Joined Jun 04 2006
 Mesa, AZ
Babe Haught to Aspen Spring, AZ 
Babe Haught to Aspen Spring, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Apr 26 2024
tabledude • Triplogs 3
Hiking34.50 Miles 314 AEG
Hiking34.50 Miles   11 Hrs   45 Mns   2.94 mph
314 ft AEG
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Solo day hike to Aspen Spring from Babe Haught Trail. Needed to do a long hike in preparation for upcoming PCT Section C that I want to do in May. Left from Fish Hatchery via Babe Haught. Then went off trail for about 1 mile west to meet up with FR300 (if I would have taken Babe Haught all the way to FR300 and then backtracked, it would have been 2.5 miles), this saved me 1.5 miles each way. Took FR300 to FR145, then Barbershop Trail to FR139, then FR139 to FR139A (I actually went past it because the sign was broken and on the ground; I leaned it up against a tree; this added an extra 2.4 miles roundtrip). From 139A, took Houston Brothers to Aspen Spring. Left at 5:20 am from parking lot, didn't stop a single time except to take pictures and videos. Got to Aspen Spring at 11:45 am.
There is some very minor snow still on rim, FRs that I hiked were completely clear. There were six vehicles on FR300 so it appears that FR300 is now open. Barbershop Trail (the 1.0 mile section that I hiked) had one short section of snow. Barbershop Canyon still has snow and the creek is running. There is probably enough snow where it should continue to melt for another 2 weeks is my best guess depending on temperatures. Houston Brothers Draw toward Aspen Spring is still flowing, but probably only for another 1-2 week or so, is my best guess since I didn't see as much snow as I did in Barbershop Canyon. But, that shouldn't be an issue since Aspen Spring (and Pinchot Spring) are reliable sources.
After eating a quick lunch (20 min max), I needed to head back. There were some dark clouds developing and I didn't want to get rained on. Luckily, it was just clouds. From noon until I finished at 5 pm, I did not see the sun at all. It was cool and windy for the remainder of the day. On the way back, I overshot my target (Babe Haught top of rim) by 0.5 miles, so that was another 1.0 bonus miles. The first 4 seasonal creeks from top of rim on Babe Haught trail 0.5 miles towards FR300 are now all dry.
Originally, I was estimating that my 31 mile trip would take 11-14 hours, but I made really good time since I never stopped to take a break except for lunch and it was cool hiking weather. Had I attempted this is warmer temperatures, I would have had to drink and carry a little more water than I did.
With the extra 3.5 miles, I still managed to finish in 11:45 hours, so I was very happy. I think my supported day hike of PCT Section C with daily mileages of 9, 32, 23, 25, 16, 15, and 12 is doable.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Aspen Spring  Houston Draw
_____________________
 
Apr 20 2024
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 Routes 1
 Photos 52
 Triplogs 3

53 male
 Joined Jun 04 2006
 Mesa, AZ
See Canyon Trail to Bear Canyon Lake, AZ 
See Canyon Trail to Bear Canyon Lake, AZ
 
Hiking avatar Apr 20 2024
tabledude • Triplogs 3
Hiking15.00 Miles
Hiking15.00 Miles   7 Hrs   45 Mns   2.22 mph
   1 Hour    Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
See Canyon Trail #184
Partners none no partners
On Saturday 4/21, Milo and I took a 15 mile day hike up See Canyon Trail to Bear Canyon Lake. The forest road to the TH is a little rough for first 0.5 miles, but then it becomes much better. Easily accessible with passenger vehicle, just need to drive very slow.
There is still a fair amount of snow up on the rim, but it is patchy (depends on tree coverage and which way slopes are facing). Will probably be another two weeks before everything melts and roads are completely passable with cars. We had to cross about a dozen creeks (some of them wide) and the lake outlet. I had to pull Milo through the first two crossings, after that he was fine. Our feet were wet/dry all day.
We left TH at 7:20 am. First 3.5 miles is all uphill with about 1,600 ft elevation gain. There are no trail markers of any kind for the first two miles, but the trail is very easy to follow. There are tree markers after first two miles (probably since there is snow coverage from that point forward in the winter and it lingers well into April). The trail has very good tree coverage, which is nice in the summer to provide lots of shade for almost the entire uphill. However, the downside is that there is still some minor snow on the trail from about miles 3.0 to 3.25. Took us just under two hours to get to the rim, but we didn’t stop at all and didn’t even drink anything. We took a short 20 min break to have a snack and drink at the top and then headed towards the lake via FR300 and then FR89.
It was nice not having any vehicles on the road and the forest roads would be very easy to follow even in the winter. It was another 3.5 miles to the lake that took us about 1:30 including our 20 min break. Spent about 30 minutes eating our lunch at the lake at the bench (it is the only one, so I am glad we did) and left at around 11:30 am. Then we followed the trail around the west side of the lake for 1.5 miles (easy to follow with blue reflectors) to the southern end where a creek feeds the lake. It was another 0.5 miles to get to the farthest southern end with the small island outcropping. There is still snow covering trail on southern end, but easily navigable with the blue tree markings.
We were going to take Trail 208 from southern end of lake to FR208, but there was still lots of snow here. It would have been difficult to find the trail, so I just decided to go off trail and aim for FR208. After about 0.5 miles, we came upon FR208 as expected. We followed FR208 for 1 mile and then went off trail again for about 0.25 miles to cut off 0.75 miles and meet back up with FR300. I think next time, I will just stay on the forest roads because the shortcut was down/up/down/up through some fairly steep terrain (especially in winter with snowshoes, it would be much harder). Aimed for off target to the west side so that we could easily find See Canyon trail by turning left.
It was another 3.5 miles back down See Canyon to TH. We left the top around 1:40 and made it back down in about 1:40 at around 3:30 pm
The 15 miles took us 7:45 that included about 1 hour of breaks, a little route finding through the snow, a little backtracking to find optimal places to cross creeks, and stopping for pictures. Would definitely do this hike again (in the summer and winter), but I think I will go counterclockwise especially if I go in the winter so that it is easier to follow trail from FR208 to the lake and it would be shorter (3.5 + 2.7). 15 miles in winter with snowshoes would definitely take more than 8 hours, so it might be just a trip to southern end of lake and then back out the same way. I included picture of our actual route (red) and the trail route (blue) had we not went off trail.
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  2 archives
Mar 02 2024
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 Routes 1
 Photos 52
 Triplogs 3

53 male
 Joined Jun 04 2006
 Mesa, AZ
Babe Haught Trail - Hatchery to Knoll LakePayson, AZ
Babe Haught Trail - Hatchery to Knoll Lake
Payson, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 02 2024
tabledude • Triplogs 3
Hiking3.84 Miles 1,498 AEG
Hiking3.84 Miles   3 Hrs      1.28 mph
1,498 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Day hike from Hatchery to Knoll Lake. Trail clear of snow from Hatchery to Rim. From rim to FR300, trail is about 50% snow covered. Trail is relatively easy to follow if you have hiked this before when it is snow free and know which way to go. Follow blazes on trees - some are old and overgrown, some are newly made, rock cairns, and depressions in snow). From FR300 to lake, the trail is 100% snow covered still. Again, fairly easy to follow if you have done it before and know what to look for. Look for same markers. Once you start dropping down, the blazes are with white paint on trees. I did it to the lake without snowshoes, but be prepared that there will be major postholing (sometimes up to 2'). Bring an extra pair of dry socks and shoes. I used snowshoes on way back out and it was so much easier, I wish I would have just put them on after crossing FR300. I don't expect the trail after FR300 to be clear of snow for at least another month. All the creek crossings have running water. At the last creek crossing, you may need to get wet. There was a snow bridge that I was able to use, but it will probably be gone in 1-2 weeks depending on weather.
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Knoll Lake
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 2.15 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

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