The_Eagle's Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Sep 05 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Penosha Trail

Southeast, MI

Penosha Trail

Southeast, MI

Hiking		Sep 05 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	3.55 Miles	367 AEG

Hiking	3.55 Miles	1 Hour 21 Mns	2.70 mph
	367 ft AEG	2 Mns Break

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

Ladyeagle

Topcat

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

Out for a leg stretcher in the beautiful thick tall trees and 60 degree temps. Great to be out of the furnace for a while.

_____________________

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

Aug 30 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

West Webber - Turkey Springs Balloon, AZ

Hiking		Aug 30 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	10.92 Miles	2,419 AEG

Hiking	10.92 Miles	4 Hrs 50 Mns		2.41 mph
	2,419 ft AEG	18 Mns Break	3 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Geronimo Trail #240

Turkey Springs Trail #217

West Webber Trail #228

West Webber #228 to Geronimo #240

Partners

none

no partners

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

I've been wanting to get over here to check out the damage from last years WEST fire. I was going to do it yesterday to avoid the plethora of Labor Day monkeys up on Milk Ranch Point. I knew that the rain yesterday morning would have made the Geronimo trail a slip-fest, so today was the day.

On the drive in, I saw a pride of deer, a gaggle of elk, and a school of turkeys. It was in the 60s with a breeze to start, and there was one other car at the trailhead. To begin, you are on the Highline/AZT for a quarter mile through a pretty section of trail after crossing Webber Creek.

---

Geronimo Trail #240

I am not a fan of this old road, which is now a trail. It's washed out, rocky, and just not fun, but it's a means to get to the good stuff.

---

West Webber Trail #228

I'm happy to say that the maples, oaks, and pines on West Webber appear to be mainly unscathed in the lower elevations. It should be a good autumn color hike this year.

The burn damage was much more evident after the intersection of West Webber and Milk Ranch Point West. This is also where the elevation gain ramps up a bit. While going up, I passed the only hiker/runner I saw all day, who was headed down.

I had a 1.5-mile road walk on FR218 to get to the Turkey Spring Trail. It being a holiday weekend, I expected a zoo. The first half of my walk was pleasant and quiet. The closer I got to Dickerson Flat, not so much. There were 20+ RVs and campers, all with ORVs, motorcycles, etc. Luckily, this is where I hit the Turkey Springs Trail.

---

Turkey Springs Trail #217

The damage on Turkey Springs is a lot more evident, especially toward the top right after you drop off the edge. On the bright side, it opened up the views.

I met the runner again as I was going down Turkey Springs; he was coming up. After a little conversation, he mentioned that he was scouting out part of the route for the Mogollon Monster, which is being run next week (101.8 miles - 16,544 AEG).

The lower sections of the Turkey Springs Trail are in decent shape, both tread-wise and burn-wise. I'd forgotten about the nice rim views here.

I passed up a scenic rock outcropping that I've noted in previous hikes. I had no interest in attempting to climb it.

Further down, I checked out the flowing Turkey Spring, washed off my face, and soaked my hat.

From here on out, I was on the same track that I had headed in on. It was a shady, breezy 82 degrees to finish.

So to sum up,
West Webber still should be an excellent choice for Maples and Oaks.
Turkey Springs has Oaks in the upper stretches and they should be mostly good. This trail took most of it's fire damage in the upper half after dropping off the rim.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Merriam's Turkey

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Turkey Spring

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

Dickenson Flat Tank

Dry

	South Fork of West Webber Creek	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle

Turkey Spring

Gallon per minute

Webber Creek @ Highline

Light flow

_____________________

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

Aug 25 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Moist Mingus Dingus Meander, AZ

Hiking		Aug 25 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	14.28 Miles	3,128 AEG

Hiking	14.28 Miles	6 Hrs 58 Mns		2.32 mph
	3,128 ft AEG	49 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

Linked

7 linked trail guides

Mescal Trail #547

North Mingus Trail #105

Mingus Trail #105A

View Point-North Mingus Loop

View Point Trail #106

Mingus Inner Maze Loop

Bug Hollow Trail #548

Partners

partners

joebartels

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

Looking for a hike, I checked around the state for the best chance of staying dry. The rain point forecast for all the usual suspects with palatable temps showed a minimum of a 40% chance. I thought I'd try something different and consult AI. I asked for the section in AZ with the least chance for rain through early afternoon. The answer was Prescott. So, off to Mingus.

An ominous start, with rain, thunder, and lightning on the drive up. It stopped once we hit Mayer.

Mescal Trail #547
(8:30 a.m. start, 68 degrees, and a light rain)

North Mingus Trail #105
This trail is starting to close in in spots, but it's probably my favorite part of the hike. We climbed through pristine stands of pines, oaks, and maples to the saddle at the 105/105A intersection. The rain continued.

Mingus Trail #105A
Going clockwise, I'd forgotten how much downhill there was. We lost elevation that would need to be regained. We passed some pretty areas before getting to the 106 intersection. The rain continued, and the temperature was 65 degrees.

View Point Trail #106
This trail rollercoasters over to the steepish climb to the rim. The temperature dropped to 61 degrees, and the rain continued.

North Mingus Trail #105
Back on this for the trip across the top of Mingus. Part way down, the rain stopped, and we had some lunch. It was 68 degrees and chilly. I checked the radar, and it looked like the rain could be over. Twenty minutes later, the umbrellas were up again. The hardest rain of the day hit for about 10 minutes and then backed off to sprinkles.

Bug Hollow Trail #548
The 400-foot climb up to the use trail always gets the heart pumping. Where this ends, a use trail begins. The use trail terminates into the Bug Hollow Trail. This trends down, back to the Mescal Trail. (rain...uh yep)

Mescal Trail #547
This section is also a favorite and took me back to the car

The theme of the day was rain—mainly light, with only one hard downpour, but the umbrella was in hand most of the day. I'm not complaining, but bragging. The temperature never even hit 70 degrees all day. For August, that's pretty much unheard of.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Deers Ears

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Crepuscular rays

Autumn Foliage Observation None
Unexplained oak and maple leaves brown. Both off the trees and on the ground

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

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

Aug 18 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Kendrick - Bull Basin - Pumpkin Loop, AZ

Hiking		Aug 18 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	18.20 Miles	4,958 AEG

Hiking	18.20 Miles	9 Hrs 13 Mns		2.28 mph
	4,958 ft AEG	1 Hour 15 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Kendrick Peak Trail #22

Pumpkin Trail #39

Connector Trail #80

Bull Basin Trail #40 - Kendrick

Partners

partners

joebartels

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

We were the third car in the lot, starting our hike at 8:30 a.m. in the low 60s. On our way up, we passed three women, and that was all the hikers we saw that day. This loop has been a go-to escape from the "valley oven" for us over the years.

Kendrick Peak Trail #22
This trail is still in good shape, gaining 2,400 feet in 4.5 miles to the cabin and another 0.5 miles and 300 feet of elevation gain to the peak. Access to the lookout tower is now locked to prevent further damage like what I saw in May.

Pumpkin Trail #39
This trail has some of my favorite views to the north. There is some additional deadfall that you have to navigate, but with a downloaded GPS track and some cairn searching, it's not that difficult to find your way.

Connector Trail #80
This isn't my favorite trail and is the warmest section of the hike. The trail is getting overgrown. Once again, with a track and cairn searching, it's no big deal. At the intersection with the Bull Basin Trail, we took a break and had some lunch before our final climb of the day. Temperatures reached 80 degrees in this section.

Bull Basin Trail #40
The lower third of this trail could use some deadfall removal. This deadfall continues into the areas with the new aspen growth. The trail clearing through here is holding up for the most part, with only scattered deadfall to bypass. The aspens are now tall enough to provide welcome shade for the climb. From the connector trail to the cabin is a 2,000-foot, 3.5-mile climb.

We took a break, gathered our ice-cold, cached drinks, and completed the final slog to the car. We had mostly shade all the way back.

Wildflowers Observation Light

_____________________

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

Aug 11 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Donahue - East End - Pine Canyon, AZ

Hiking		Aug 11 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	15.29 Miles	3,065 AEG

Hiking	15.29 Miles	7 Hrs 56 Mns		2.32 mph
	3,065 ft AEG	1 Hour 20 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Highline - AZT #26

Pine Canyon Trail #26

Pine Canyon / Donahue loop

Donahue Trail #27

East Rim Trail - BSA

Partners

none

no partners

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

I had two goals on this hike. First, I wanted to check out the damage from the 2024 West fire, and second, I wanted to finish trimming the East Rim Trail that I'd started last year.

A dozen cars were parked at the Pine trailhead at 7 a.m., but I only saw one person all day. It was a glorious 64 degrees to start. I headed down the Highline and made the turn up Donahue. It's a tad steep, but luckily, it was in the shade most of the way.

A bit of a road walk on FR218, which has had gravel laid down since the last time I was up here. It looks to be by the same people who did the Rim Road. I wonder if they plan on thinning up here too?

I took FR9382L to the rim and then began my off-trail route to the top of the East Rim Trail, navigating around the nubile locust growth.

The East Rim Trail drops 1,100 feet in three-quarters of a mile to the Pine Canyon Trail. It took me 1.75 hours to get down, completing my trimming as I went. It should be clear sailing from top to bottom now.

On the Pine Canyon Trail, it was a bit of a grind with the temps now in the low 90s.

I'm glad the fire damage was not as bad as I'd feared and that my trimming was complete on the East Rim Trail.

_____________________

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

Aug 07 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Aspen Nature Loop

Flagstaff, AZ

Aspen Nature Loop

Flagstaff, AZ

Hiking		Aug 07 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	1.96 Miles	326 AEG

Hiking	1.96 Miles	51 Mns		2.31 mph
	326 ft AEG		2 LBS Pack

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

Ladyeagle

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

We were in Flagstaff for the day and had some time to kill, so we drove up to the Snowbowl area. The temperature at 3 p.m. as we turned off SR-180 onto Snowbowl Road (7,340 feet) was 91 degrees. The temperature in the nearly empty Lot 1 trailhead (9,365 feet) was a more comfortable 79 degrees. Breezes made this short loop even more pleasant. After completing the loop, I gave Deb the choice of driving down to Veit Springs (8,598 feet) for a hike, or up to the Agassiz Lodge (9,560 feet) for a barley pop and a cider. We were done hiking for the day.

Up next, pie at NiMarco's Pizza and then off to the Lowell Observatory for the evening. We'd never been before, so it was a late night observing the stars, learning about the solar system, and hearing the history behind the observatory. Once again, using our cultural passes, we saved $60!

It was a fun day.

_____________________

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

Aug 05 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Woods - Bear Canyon Lakes, AZ

Hiking		Aug 05 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	5.06 Miles	470 AEG

Hiking	5.06 Miles	2 Hrs 35 Mns	2.15 mph
	470 ft AEG	14 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Woods Canyon - Mogollon Rim

Woods Canyon Lake Trail - Mogollon Rim

Bear Canyon Lake Trail #112

Partners

none

no partners

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

We needed to get to higher ground to get out of the heat, and Woods Canyon Lake is one of Deb's favorites in the state. So, we decided to go.

It was 78 degrees with a breezy to windy start, so we decided against the kayaks. A loop around the lake it was. We had the trail all to ourselves for the entire loop. There were some people fishing on the shore and in boats, but that was it. The weather was glorious.

After lunch at one of the rim vistas with views of the Billy fire in the Anchas, we headed down the paved FR300 to Bear Canyon Lake. You only have the three miles from FR300 to the lake remaining that is now dirt.

We just sampled the trail from the Merganser Trailhead to the lake. Deb had never been to Bear Canyon Lake. There was no one on the lake, and we only saw a single person fishing. The temperatures were still very comfortable in the low 80s.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bear Canyon Lake Woods Canyon Lake

_____________________

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

Aug 04 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

E Verde - Ellison - Water Wheel, AZ

Hiking		Aug 04 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	2.84 Miles	387 AEG

Hiking	2.84 Miles	1 Hour 41 Mns		1.72 mph
	387 ft AEG	2 Mns Break	3 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Ellison Creek Cascades

Water Wheel Falls Hike

Partners

partners

Tortoise_Hiker

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

Turtle had some unfinished business with hikes from one of his books. He enlisted me (in case someone needed to identify the body) to join him on this short jaunt. I guess it's been 13 years since I hiked through here and it's hard to turn down the turtle when he gets those puppy dog eyes.

Starting at the Second Crossing TH, we used our ATBSP (America the Beautiful Senior Pass) and avoided the additional charge for using the Water Wheel TH. Temps were a glorious 53 to start.

We literally slid down to the non-flowing East Verde and made our way downstream. Or I guess since there was no water, just downhill. Next up was Ellison Creek, this was a picturesque area with gently flowing water. I said hi to local residents #106, interrupting her breakfast. The falls, stepping log and pool below were a treat to see, sans the weekend crowds. In fact we only saw a pair of girls all day. There were the usual remnants from the crowds though.

Back on the East Verde again we made our way towards the Water Wheel.

The wheel was built in the early 1900s by a gold miner named James Greer. It used a rotating rope pulley attached to milk cans that dipped into the river and lifted and dumped ore into a funnel. It then flowed through piping into a sluice box to process gold.

To complete our loop, we hiked back to the car on Houston Mesa Road.

Good getting out with the turtle again.

Ellison Creek

Light flow

_____________________

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

Jul 29 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Its a Beaute, AZ

Hiking		Jul 29 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	9.15 Miles	1,552 AEG

Hiking	9.15 Miles	3 Hrs 48 Mns		2.52 mph
	1,552 ft AEG	10 Mns Break	4 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Baker Butte L.O. CNF 8077

Partners

none

no partners

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

A route up the backside of Baker Butte has had my interest for a while. The fuel reduction and logging work from two years ago may have made the climb portion a bit easier.

I started from the trailhead above "The Switchbacks" of the Pine Canyon Trail, using a combination of decommissioned and overgrown forest roads along with some off-trail travel. I made my way over to the climb up FR 9388L, which disappears after a couple hundred feet. This portion of the climb is at the upper edge of Pine Creek Canyon and involves 700 feet of climbing and traversing through and around locust thickets. Views back down toward Pine Canyon were obscured by smoke from the seemingly endless North Rim fires.

Near the top, I picked up the short Lookout Loop Trail to reach the summit. It appears the Baker Butte Lookout is unmanned this year—at least on weekdays.

To mix things up, I descended via a different track, following the path of least resistance and eventually ending up on the decommissioned FR 9384M. A different route back to the start included a short stretch of the General Crook Trail. It must have been open-range day for the cattle—I saw and hiked past quite a few.

The wild raspberries, though small from lack of rain, were still tasty. Pleasant temperatures, a mix of shade, and occasional breezes made for a pleasant hike.

_____________________

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

Jul 27 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Derrick - Horton Loop

Payson, AZ

Derrick - Horton Loop

Payson, AZ

Hiking		Jul 27 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	9.87 Miles	1,579 AEG

Hiking	9.87 Miles	3 Hrs 56 Mns		2.66 mph
	1,579 ft AEG	13 Mns Break	10 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Derrick Trail #33

Horton Creek Trail #285

Partners

partners

LindaAnn

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

Met up with Linda and her friend Janelle to do the Horton-Derrick Loop. Cool, pleasant temps for our 7:30 start as we made our way clockwise toward the spring. We passed three groups already returning from the spring, plus a campsite with a few mules, dudes, and dogs.

We took in the spring, had a snack, and shared stories about Linda. It was my first time hitting the new reroute in this direction—I still like it. The mules, dudes, and dogs passed us and, for some reason, thought my name was Pete or Joshua?

Derrick drags on, but it's necessary to complete the loop. Temps stayed good all day, with a nice breeze. It was great to finally meet Janelle—and oh yeah, hike with Linda again. On the return, Sunday traffic getting to and through Payson was a total CF.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cutleaf Coneflower Yellow Columbine

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Moist Spring

_____________________

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

Jul 22 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Spruce Loop with Issy, AZ

Hiking		Jul 22 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	12.52 Miles	2,394 AEG

Hiking	12.52 Miles	5 Hrs 20 Mns	2.76 mph
	2,394 ft AEG	48 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Isabella Loop

Isabella Trail #377

Groom Creek Loop Trail #307

Partners

partners

LindaAnn

wallyfrack

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

The drive in was interesting on the usually quiet Walker Road. On the dirt portion, we slowly began picking up more traffic, which we started following. We patiently waited for them to peel off into one of the many driveways, but that never happened. All four or five vehicles pulled into the Isabella Trailhead (TH), the same one we were going to. The trailhead was now at capacity and then some.

We scrambled to get going and start in front of them. Luckily for us, this group from the Prescott Hiking Club was heading over to hike Mt. Davis.

Isabella Trail #377
It was a glorious 64 degrees at the beginning of this hike. This is a pretty steep one to start, climbing 600 feet in 1.25 miles before terminating at the Groom Creek Loop. Deer and squirrels were the fauna theme of the day.

Groom Creek Loop Trail #307
Continuing counter-clockwise, we made our way over to the Spruce Mountain Fire Tower. We were invited up into the cab and had a conversation with the current lookout. Next up was the bouldering area. On the way, we passed more mule deer that let us pass within 10 feet with almost zero fear. The bouldering area is always an interesting maze to explore.

Next was the 4-mile, 1,100-foot climb to meet the Isabella Trail. We stopped for a short lunch at Cole's Cabin before continuing up to Isabella and the downhill return to the car. It was in the 60s and 70s all day, with scattered clouds and freshening breezes.

Good catching up with Linder and Walter!

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Mule Deer

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Granite Mountain

_____________________

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

Jul 21 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Pinal Peak via Six Shooter, AZ

Hiking		Jul 21 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	13.29 Miles	3,571 AEG

Hiking	13.29 Miles	6 Hrs 44 Mns		2.32 mph
	3,571 ft AEG	1 Hour 1 Min Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Sixshooter Trail #197

Ferndell Trail #204

Pinal Peak 7848

Middle Trail #202

Pipeline Trail #193 - Pinal

Partners

partners

joebartels

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

This is the first time our schedules matched up since the end of April. Taking advantage of the cooler temps and cloud cover, we headed to the Pinals. The low 70s to start were welcome for the steepish six-mile climb to the Rock Ladder.

Sixshooter is in generally good condition, with only a few downed logs easily hopped over and some mildly encroaching brush.

Ferndell Trail is also in good condition, with what appears to be some semi-recent trailwork.

A short trip to the Rock Ladder and then to Pinal Peak followed, where we ran into a large group of tower workers with no humor whatsoever. Temps were 64 at this point and almost cool at times.

The Middle Trail and the Pipeline Trail were up next. We passed some volunteers working on Pipeline. A short road walk back to Ferndell and down the hill on Sixshooter wrapped up the day.

It was good catching up with Joe.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Ferndell Spring

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

	Ferndell Spring	Quart per minute	Quart per minute
	Steady drizzle of cold clear water.

Six Shooter Canyon

Dry

	Trail Junction Mine Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Moist on the ground around the opening. Springbox water was thick and murky

_____________________

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

Jul 18 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Crystal Point n Arb, AZ

Hiking		Jul 18 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	8.91 Miles	1,155 AEG

Hiking	8.91 Miles	3 Hrs 55 Mns		2.38 mph
	1,155 ft AEG	10 Mns Break	2 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Crystal Point Trail

Partners

partners

Ladyeagle

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

Deb and I headed north to escape the heat, looking for a relatively short hike to warm up. I suggested the Crystal Point Trail in Munds Park, a hike I'd done a portion of a while back as part of a longer trip. This time, I wanted to do the full out-and-back hike to Odell Lake.

The weather started in the 70s with scattered clouds. The climb to the peak isn't a long one, just 1.3 miles with 350 feet of gain. We passed a handful of people coming down on our way up. At the summit, Deb wasn't feeling well and said (her words, not mine), "If I continue, I may have a 'Ray or Denny moment.'"

I left her at the peak, where she read her book. The views of Sedona from up there are top-notch. It was 2.5 miles down to the lake, where I took some obligatory photos and then headed back up to gather Deb.

Next on our agenda was The Arboretum at Flagstaff. I'd passed it numerous times on the way to various hikes, and we once again used the cultural passes from the Phoenix Library for free admission. We moseyed around, checking out the different high-elevation plants. It's not Boyce Thompson, but it was still an enjoyable visit.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Bristlecone Pine

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Odell Lake

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

Odell Lake

51-75% full

_____________________

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

Jul 12 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Mahan - Hutch - Pine, AZ

Hiking		Jul 12 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	17.15 Miles	2,754 AEG

Hiking	17.15 Miles	8 Hrs 18 Mns		2.63 mph
	2,754 ft AEG	1 Hour 46 Mns Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Mahan Mountain

Hutch Mountain Lookout 8532

Happy Jack - AZT #28

Partners

partners

	BiFrost	chumley
	John9L

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

I joined Chums, 9L and BiCackle in a hike to escape the heat and hit a couple of 8000'+ peaks. Alot of this territory I'd covered before, but Chums threw in a couple of new twists to keep it fresh.

Mahan Mountain was up first. At 8270' this is the site of an old lookout.

1914–1922 - Detection site, saw cabin and cistern built by 1922

1922–1935 - Operated with a 30 ft steel Aermotor tower

Post‑1935 - Considered secondary; replaced by Hutch Mountain

2000–present - Structures dismantled, only footings & cistern remain

On a normal day you get some nice views to the south. but today the North Rim fires had spewed their smoke to the south to obscured some of the views.

From here Chums led us up a ridge line to gain the peak for the 8532' Hutch Mountain. The last bit was steep and rocky and had me sucking air. We had the tower to ourselves along with the current tower fire watcher manning it.

1920s - First wooden lookout constructed

1935 - Proposals submitted to build new steel tower

1936 - CCC builds 30‑ft Aermotor tower with cab

2008 - Steel catwalk installed for better visibility

2000s–2020s - Remains listed on NHLR, still occasionally staffed; popular hiking/tower visit site

Now up, was a 10 mile walk to get to the next target Pine Mountain. I left the others 200' short of the peak, skirting it and later waited for them at the AZT TH.

A short walk walk through the picturesque Bargaman Park area, stopping at a cabin just off the trail that I'd never seen before and an off trail jaunt through a wash, we were back to our starting point.

Good hiking with the misfits again.

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Coronis Fritillary Butterfly

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Hutch Mountain

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

	Boondock Tank	51-75% full	51-75% full

	Elk Tank	Dry	Dry

_____________________

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

1 archive

Jul 05 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Elden Loop, AZ

Hiking		Jul 05 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	19.29 Miles	4,447 AEG

Hiking	19.29 Miles	8 Hrs 26 Mns		2.60 mph
	4,447 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	12 LBS Pack

Linked

10 linked trail guides

Mount Elden - AZT #32

Sandy Seep Trail #129

Little Elden Trail #69

Heart Trail #103

Sunset Trail #23 - Flagstaff

Middle Oldham

Upper Oldham Trail #134

Fatmans Loop Trail #25

Elden Lookout Trail #4

Brookbank Trail #2

Partners

partners

chumley

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

Fresh off vacation on the East Coast, I got an invite from Chums to escape to cooler country in Flagstaff. For various reasons, I'd had hikes with nothing but minimal mileage, elevation gain, or actual elevation for over a month. So, when he threw out a hike with 5,200+ feet of gain, I politely poo-pooed the invite. He came back with a more reasonable 11-mile, 3,200-foot gain hike, and I was in.

The plan was to drive into Friedlein Prairie to cut a bit more mileage off, but we quickly found a locked gate. So, back to the original idea to start at Schultz Tank, only to find another locked gate. Later searching showed that these areas close during the current Stage 2 fire restrictions. On to Plan C.

Neither of us are fans of the trail leaving the Elden Trailhead to the tower, so we headed over to the less busy Sandy Seep Trailhead, with plans to start up the Heart Trail and wing it from there. The burn is still quite evident up here, but you still get sections of unburned forest. We fashioned a loop, mostly of things I'd done before. On Brookbank #2, we smartly off-trailed and short-cutted Hill 8747 to save some mileage. It worked out. We were now starting our climb back up. The Oldham Trail has been completely rerouted going back uphill. It only touches the old trail in a couple of spots. Chums thought there were too many switchbacks. Me, being just a few years older, found them to be appropriate.

We bypassed the Elden Tower and hiked through the aspen thickness of the Sunset Trail to the Elden Lookout Trail. For me, this trail makes tired legs even more tired with all the rocks to negotiate.

Reaching the Fatman's Loop, we made the decision to go cross-country/follow use trails to get our way back to the start.

So much for taking it easy. Temperatures were mostly nice all day, especially in the shade or when the wind decided to blow. Thanks for driving, Chums. Good catching up.

Wildflowers Observation Light

_____________________

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

Jun 30 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Mount Agamenticus Trails, ME

Hiking		Jun 30 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	4.25 Miles	648 AEG

Hiking	4.25 Miles	1 Hour 47 Mns		2.41 mph
	648 ft AEG	1 Min Break	2 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Mount Agamenticus Trails

Ring Trail - Mount Agamenticus

Witch Hazel - Mount Agamenticus

Big A Trail - Mount Agamenticus

Vulture Trail - Mount Agamenticus

Partners

partners

Ladyeagle

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

Final hike on our Mass/Maine trip. We tackled this one after checking out and on our way back to Boston.

I had no clear plan other than to sample the area and hike the Ring Trail. We started this counter-clockwise at the split and continued under the welcome, sun-shielded tree cover. It was rocky and root-filled in places, but being dry, we had no problems. We came across the remnants of one of the old ski lifts on this trail. There are numerous short trails that branch off this loop, connecting it to the Big A trail and the summit above. I went up and down a few of these and checked out the summit views while Deb continued on The Ring Trail.

After completing the trail, we drove to the top of the mountain so I could show Deb the views. The views are expansive and nearly 360 degrees. All of the trails we sampled were in great shape.

I'd love to try the trails associated with the Second Hill and Third Hill trail areas of this park

_____________________

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

Jun 29 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Ogunquit-York, ME

Hiking		Jun 29 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	4.94 Miles	328 AEG

Hiking	4.94 Miles	4 Hrs 24 Mns	1.22 mph
	328 ft AEG	22 Mns Break

Linked

linked

The Marginal Way

Partners

partners

Ladyeagle

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

Next to the last day in Maine. Most of the family had already started their drive home to Michigan, but my sister, brother-in-law, and Deb still had plans for the day. We planned to start in Wells, head north to Kennebunkport and Cape Porpoise, then work our way down to York. We'd sightsee, eat, and hike our way there.

The purpose of our trip out east was twofold. First, we hold a Coan family reunion every other year, usually on Cape Cod. This year, we had a group of 30.

The second reason was to spread my mom’s ashes next to my dad’s in Cape Cod Bay, where we had scattered his 32 years ago. We also took some to her family cemetery in York, Maine, to reunite her with her mom and sister. Mission accomplished.

Now to the hikes.

We tried to hike The Marginal Way on the way down, but couldn’t find any parking. So next up was The Cliff Walk, which I had heard was closed. This was a Plan B hike because the one I really wanted to do started from private property.

The Cliff Walk looked like it used to be a very picturesque trail, but a hurricane had taken out parts of it a few years back. Since it runs behind the backyards of the rich and famous, it seems unlikely it’ll ever reopen. We detoured around the closure, hoping to jump onto the trail somewhere else, but had no luck. It ended up turning into a very pleasant walk through a beautiful old town.

Nubble Point Light, once again, isn't much of a hike, but it's always worth a quick stop for the scenery.

Finally, The Marginal Way was the crown jewel of the day. Nothing too hard, but the scenery was incredible—totally worth a stop. My sister mentioned, that my mom had told her if she was ever in the area, "This was a hike you must do". It’s paved the whole way and has very little elevation change. If you go during the busy season, try to get there early or later in the day for better chances at parking.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cape Neddick Nubble Nubble Point Ogunquit Beach

_____________________

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

Jun 28 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Wells Beach, ME

Hiking		Jun 28 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	0.71 Miles	11 AEG

Hiking	0.71 Miles	25 Mns	1.70 mph
	11 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

partners

Ladyeagle

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

After checking into our 4th location on this trip, now in Maine, a short trip to check out this beach by our AirBnB before some dinner.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Wells Harbor

_____________________

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

Jun 25 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Flax Pond Conservation Area

Southeast, MA

Flax Pond Conservation Area

Southeast, MA

Hiking		Jun 25 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	2.30 Miles	208 AEG

Hiking	2.30 Miles	43 Mns	3.21 mph
	208 ft AEG

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

none

no partners

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

I used parts of the Orange, White, Red and use, trails to make up a short loop under the shade of the trees. Temps had cooled down from the previous days high of 99 and humid to the low 90's and humid.

There are plenty of other use trails out there that I did not explore.

There were four dogs and their owners cooling off in Flax Pond.

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Flax Pond

Flax Pond

76-100% full

_____________________

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

Jun 21 2025

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Outer Cape Cod, MA

Hiking		Jun 21 2025
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	2.54 Miles	160 AEG

Hiking	2.54 Miles	1 Hour 19 Mns	2.18 mph
	160 ft AEG	9 Mns Break

Linked

linked

Red Maple Swamp Trail - Cape Cod Nat. Seashore

Ft Hill Trail - Cape Cod Nat. Seashore

Doane Trail - Cape Cod Nat. Seashore

Partners

partners

Ladyeagle

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

After checking out of our hotel—and before driving down to the mid-Cape to meet up with our 27 family members driving in from Michigan—we hit up a few short hikes.

We turned the Fort Hill and Red Maple Swamp trails into a clockwise loop. There were great views of Nauset Marsh and the Atlantic beyond. We caught up to and joined, for a while, an NPS ranger who was giving a guided tour that covered the history of the area and Cape Cod. I learned a few things I had never known—like the fact that, at one point in the past, Cape Cod was essentially a dust bowl due to extensive logging and land clearing.

He also mentioned that Cape Cod National Seashore is the 20th busiest national park in the U.S., which honestly surprised me.

There was never actually a fort built at Fort Hill, but it served as a high point for observing activity in the area.

The Doane Trail was unremarkable but worth checking out if you're already nearby. Definitely bring insect repellent. Doane Rock is the largest exposed glacial erratic on Cape Cod.

Flora

Flora [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Japanese honeysuckle Peavine

_____________________

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

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ... 61 Next

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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