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| | | Red and White Picacho Loop, AZ | | | |
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Red and White Picacho Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 4.49 Miles |
2,249 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.49 Miles | 4 Hrs 49 Mns | | 1.68 mph |
| 2,249 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 9 Mns Break | | | |
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| | | The Police had us almost completely surrounded as Bob hopped in and we made them look like they were standing still. The "Funky Groove" playlist was our soundtrack as we cruised down the Carefree Highway until Bob requested something harder as Red approached. I switched to "Jam" and managed to get him to turn down the volume out of concern for the ranch on Castle Hot Springs Road (although I did see a few head bops first). We would have been on time, but a couple of iffy looking hitch hikers caused a short delay. Fortunately they, and a few more strangers at the trailhead turned out to be quite friendly and shared a similar interest in cracking some nuts and we were on our way.
Some nice off trail led up to the saddle, where Bob wasted no time scaling the most southern route while we all fanned out to find the easier way Ken had found and was keeping to himself. JJ managed to summit using the middle/slot while the rest of us weighed our options. Scott was almost up the northern route when I decided some of this was looking pretty dangerous without protection, and I badgered Ken for confirmation on his route. I didn't want to spoil the unknown for anyone, but that was outweighed by my interest in seeing everyone getting home under their own power. He confirmed it was Scott's path, which I followed, finding solid rock with only one awkward section, followed by a short scramble to the summit. 
Todd was nice enough to bring 2 Growlers from the Arizona Wilderness Brewery, and a few ounces later I decided they may know a thing or two about beer. After summit registering and chit chat, we all made it down safely and headed over to the much easier summit of White Picacho, where Bob, always thinking of others, offered his nuts for everyone to enjoy.
We took in the views from the cool white stone peak, plotting future hikes at the ends of our fingers, until the beer ran out and there was nothing to do but head back.
Dropping to the saddle, the plan was to drop further to the dirt bike trail and follow that back. But, as with many group hikes, not everyone knew there was a "plan", and some time was spent starting with "Where's *****?", followed by waiting, wandering, yelling, and finally heading back with fingers crossed. Fortunately, we all soon found ourselves back at the Three Tacos Trailhead Afterparty, where Green Apple Licorice accompanied post-hike suds and the game on Chumley's radio.
All in all, a good day with some new faces and another red summit pin for my wall map.  |
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The past, the present, and the future walked into a bar.
It was tense. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
! The next few seconds passed slowly as I blinked and tried to determine the damage. Thankfully the pain subsided and the my vision cleared in a few minutes, with only a minor scratch. 
