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| Hiking | 19.70 Miles |
4,938 AEG |
| | Hiking | 19.70 Miles | 10 Hrs 34 Mns | | 1.94 mph |
| 4,938 ft AEG | 25 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | I had this route set up nearly 2 years ago, waiting for the narrow window in AZ weather where it's not too hot and no snow at the higher elevations in the Mazzies. With the mild winter we've been having and the days getting longer but not too warm yet, the time to strike was now. Wally and Brian agreed to join me. Brian has also been getting sections of the AZT done, but that morning when he showed up, he seemed very tired and had the demeanor of someone who had changed his mind but forgot to tell everyone.
We started from the Doll Baby TH just after 6:30am, doing the loop counter clockwise. Wally and I had hiked the Saddle Ridge Trail over a decade ago and the road you hike up over the hill has been graded and is much easier to walk on. It's still steep in spots, but much less rocky. The shortcut to the river is very steep and rocky at first, then it levels out and is very pleasant.
The big climb started up Bull Spring. It's gradual most of the way, but steep in some spots. As you ascend there are nice views to the north of the Mogollon Rim and Polles Mesa. After the junction with the Brush Trail, there is a short descent, followed by another climb that's very steep at first, then mellows out a bit.
Once we got to the saddle, the trail descends again down towards Brush Spring. Just before the spring at the saddle, Wally suggested a lunch break as there was a downed tree that made for good seating. Afterwards once we got to Brush Spring, we noticed many other areas that probably would have made for a better lunch spot. Murphy's Law strikes again.
On the way up Bull Spring and Brush, my hamstring was bothering me a bit and after sitting for lunch it tightened up even more. I was limping most of the mile after that, but after a couple ibuprofens, I felt brand new. I usually wear a knee brace and compression sleeve on my right knee as I have some mild arthritis there, but for a bigger hike like this one, I decided to put one on my left knee, which will hurt sometimes on bigger hikes. The compression sleeve was pinching a muscle or ligament or something above my knee, which I think may have contributed to the hamstring issue. The next day, my hamstring is fine, but the inner part of my left leg is still sore.
the hike up after Brush Spring was the worst part. Very steep and rocky, and my slowest time for that mile. Once it leveled out, we spotted some tracks that looked like they might be from a mountain lion. There was one more descent before the final climb to the Mazatzal Divide Trail, which was the end of our climbing for the day. I kept paying attention the total AEG and was more interested for that be done more than the mileage.
About halfway down the MDT, I saw Wally ahead of me below. He stopped and was looking at his GPS. Then he turned around and headed back up the trail like he had missed a turnoff. I checked my GPS and I could see that we were all on the correct trail. Wally ran into Brian and then they both were headed back up the trail to meet me and inform me that we were off trail, at which point I interrupted them and told them no we weren't, turn around and go back down. Wally looked at his GPS again and suddenly he was back on the trail. he must have lost one of his satellite signals.
Heading down the MDT, the views are great. At the start you get a glimpse of the SF Peaks in Flagstaff, then there area great views of North Peak and the Mogollon Rim. the descent on this trail down to the City Creek TH is very nice at first, and then gradually gets worse. It gets a little more overgrown the lower you get, and there are more and more loose and rocky spots.
I made a route at the last mile that cuts across the hillside and goes directly to the Doll Baby TH. I mentioned this to Wally and Brian before the hike. When we were higher up, Brian asked me if I was going to take the shortcut I made. At the time the trail was easier to hike and we were moving pretty good, so I said I would probably stay on trail,but I would make my decision when I got there. When I got to the turnoff point, the MDT was rocky enough to make me miserable after 18 miles, so I took my shortcut. Wally and Brian were long gone. The shortcut was actually easier to hike than the trail at that point. I made a point to make the route to follow the easiest grade of the land and as I kept looking at it to guide me, it worked out very well. There was one loose spot that was easily negotiated. Some overgrowth and catclaw here and there, but very easy to avoid. I think there was even a cattle trail that I ended up one, making it even easier. The only glitch was the barbed wire fence along the road that I had to hop. It was a little tricky, but I was able to handle it. Just before we left, I noticed that the barbed wire ended at the gabions that line the trailhead parking lot, so I went through all that for nothing.
Stopped for some cheaper gas in Payson and then drove straight home, arriving at my place just after dark. After I pulled into my driveway, the sound of 3 old guys getting out of the car after a 20 mile and nearly 1 mile vertical hike was amusing to us. Still sore today, but in a good way. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
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The nice scenery along Gold Ridge helped offset the pain. Kind of. 
