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| | | Reavis via Campaign Trl, AZ | | | |
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Reavis via Campaign Trl, AZ
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| Backpack | 20.00 Miles |
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| | Backpack | 20.00 Miles | 14 Hrs | | 1.43 mph |
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| no partners | | Looking at our Superstition Wilderness map, we decided to try a different way into Reavis Ranch. We took the Campaign Trail to the Fire Line trail to hike in, and used the Reavis Gap trail to make it a loop to hike back out.
Coming in via the CAmpaign Trail was beautiful. Lots of water in Campaign Creek and then at Brushy Spring. It is pretty much a continuous climb to the Fire Line trail, but as it is thickly forested and gradual, it makes for a really beautiful hike. Coming off a long summer without much hiking, made this pretty tough for the first backpacking trip of the year, so we decide to stay at the junction of the Campaign and Fire Line trails the first night, planning to fill up water at Black Jack Spring. Bad plan as when we found the tank for Black Jack, there was no water. We hiked back a little over a mile to Brushy Spring to fill up. (3 people and 4 dogs can go through a lot of water!)
We really enjoyed the area and the late wildflowers. We saw lots of bear scat literally everywhere, but no critters. After a couple nice bottles of wine and a good night's sleep, we started late the next morning. We also took a little time to find and put up the Trail sign for the Fire Line Trail,as we found it laying in the bushes.
We have decide there is just no way to get to Reavis Ranch that does not involve an evil hill climb. The first mile of Fire Line climbs a little over 900 feet and it has a whole lot of straight up! After the agony of the up and a great view back toward Pinto Peak, the trail meanders through Ponderosa pines and flowers and more bear scat until it gradually descends into Reavis Valley. We spent the second night at Reavis, enjoying wine, cheese and apples to our hearts content! Yum!
We planned to take the Reavis Gap Trail back out and turned off at the signed intersection. We followed a well worn trail until it turned into a not so well used trail until it turned into nothing...and there was much sadness as we spent a good hour bushwhacking and bouldering up a wash and a big hill to reconnect with the trail. While roaming around on no trails and random game trails, I almost fell on a dead deer...it had its antlers cut off and was partially gutted and starting to become smelly and again there was much sadness...
Once we connected with the Reavis Gap Trail we figured we were in great shape. I must say however, that rocky and steep do not even begin to aptly describe this trail. We marveled as we slid and slipped our way down that anyone would ever go UP this. You couldn't pay me to do it! We did see multiple deer and great wildfowers and amazing scenic vistas...but this is not a route we wish to be on again any time soon!
On the bright side, coming in this way we did not see one, single solitary person who was not in our group of three. We figured it would be unheard of not to find people at Reavis this time of year. We found a fire still smoldering in a ring near the ranch house foundation, but that was the only sign of people on this entire trip. |
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| Someone who would trade freedom for security, deserves neither. Benjamin Franklin |
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