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12 triplogs
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Jun 28 2013
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Humphreys Summit Trail #151Flagstaff, AZ
Humphreys Summit Trail #151
Flagstaff, AZ
Hiking avatar Jun 28 2013
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking10.25 Miles 3,313 AEG
Hiking10.25 Miles
3,313 ft AEG
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Unwisely made the decision to go above the treeline with thunderstorms in the area. I thought I'd be fine because they had been parked over the same spots all morning, and I hadn't heard any thunder for quite a while. Of course, coming down off the summit, I had a storm rip over me. My hair started standing up and I heard electrical noises, so I did a lighting crouch. I waited a few minutes, got up, and experienced the same thing. Hit the ground again, waited a few more minutes, and then started crouch-running down the trail. Then the storm suddenly let up and the weather was placid for the rest of the day.

I know I should have stayed down until the storm passed, but a combination of thin air and panic overwhelmed my judgement.

Back home in Tucson, there have been two rather vigorous storms in two days. I'm starting to wonder if I've gained a storm-attracting superpower.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Bristlecone Pine  Engelmann Spruce  Parry's Primrose
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Atlantis Fritillary Butterfly  Western Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Agassiz Peak  Doyle Peak  Fremont Peak  Humphreys Peak  Inner Basin
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Sunset
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial
_____________________
 
Jul 13 2012
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Hualapai PeakNorthwest, AZ
Hualapai Peak
Northwest, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 13 2012
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking7.55 Miles 2,070 AEG
Hiking7.55 Miles   9 Hrs      1.89 mph
2,070 ft AEG   5 Hrs    Break10 LBS Pack
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
80% chance of rain? No problem. The old man and I decided we'd pack some rain gear and do what the weather would allow. We ran into tons of rain and fog, but we didn't have any issues with lightning and wind. During the biggest downpour, I found out my coat and bag were more water-resistant than waterproof. The visibility was near-zero when we summited, so we had no views whatsoever. However, the clouds broke on the way down from the summit to the trail, so we got some great 180 degree views with some cool fog banks making things especially interesting.

The hike back to the trailhead was easy and the rain was light. I was quite happy to change out of my soaked clothing and have a celebratory Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale. After we were dry and packed up, we coasted back into Kingman and had a fantastic dinner at El Palacio before heading back to Phoenix. The drive back was interesting due to violent thunderstorms along the 93 and a collision with a wild burro along the 74 (Beware Friday the 13th!). Fortunately, we were not injured. According to the highway patrolman who responded to the collision, there are tons of wild burros crossing highways and roads around Lake Pleasant. Folks, please be especially careful when you drive at night in that area!
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Engelmann Prickly Pear  Ponderosa Pine
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Ants  Ladybug beetle
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Benchmark
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Dean Peak  Hayden Peak  Hualapai Peak
 Meteorology
 Meteorology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Fog
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
_____________________
 
Apr 24 2012
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Florida Canyon Trail #145Tucson, AZ
Florida Canyon Trail #145
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 24 2012
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking4.10 Miles 3,200 AEG
Hiking4.10 Miles   8 Hrs      0.82 mph
3,200 ft AEG   3 Hrs    Break15 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Substantial
_____________________
 
Apr 21 2012
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Devil's ChasmGlobe, AZ
Devil's Chasm
Globe, AZ
Hiking avatar Apr 21 2012
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking3.90 Miles 2,489 AEG
Hiking3.90 Miles   10 Hrs      0.78 mph
2,489 ft AEG   5 Hrs    Break15 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Another pretty tough hike with the old man. I knew the ruin would be great, but the chasm itself was very neat. I couldn't believe how lush it was!

We had no trouble reaching the trailhead in a 2WD pickup. Watch out for cattle near the ranches; a steer darted out in front of the truck on the way out.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Banana Yucca  Boxelder  Redbud Tree  Yellow Columbine
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Canyon Tree Frog  Common Black-Hawk  Western Tent Caterpillar
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Salado Habitation
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Extreme
_____________________
 
Feb 25 2012
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Jack Mountain LoopTucson, AZ
Jack Mountain Loop
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 25 2012
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking7.00 Miles 2,070 AEG
Hiking7.00 Miles   8 Hrs      0.88 mph
2,070 ft AEG10 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Hiked up to Jack Mountain via the Vault Mine Trail and the Agua Caliente Trail, and returned using the Agua Caliente Trail and the Old Baldy Trail. Great hike! There were amazing views off of the Vault Mine Trail. It was very steep, but it's very soft (by SE AZ standards). There were long stretches of fairly deep snow along the Agua Caliente Trail. The summit of Jack offered an incredible 180 degree view to the E and S.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Apache Pine
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Josephine Canyon  Josephine Peak  Mount Wrightson  Santa Rita Mountains
_____________________
 
Jan 28 2012
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Guthrie MountainTucson, AZ
Guthrie Mountain
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 28 2012
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking6.00 Miles 1,600 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles   6 Hrs      1.00 mph
1,600 ft AEG10 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I was looking for a shorter hike with a good view to do with the old man, and this fit the bill perfectly. We started from the lower Green Mountain Trail trailhead in the early afternoon. The hike up was easy and pretty, and both trails were quite easy to follow. The views near the summit were fantastic (we could see all the way over to the Chiricahuas). I was a bit suprised to find a chunk of pegmatite with some tiny spessartine garnet crystals and larger muscovite and quartz crystals. I've run into plenty of muscovite and quartz in the Catalinas, but this is definitely the first garnet I've seen up there!
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Arizona Madrone
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Granite
 Named place
 Named place [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Galiuro Mountains  Guthrie Mountain  Mica Mountain  Mount Bigelow  Pinaleno Mountains
_____________________
 
Jan 21 2012
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Ventana Canyon Trail #98Tucson, AZ
Ventana Canyon Trail #98
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 21 2012
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking5.46 Miles 1,416 AEG
Hiking5.46 Miles   5 Hrs      1.56 mph
1,416 ft AEG   1 Hour   30 Mns Break5 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I wanted to take my mostly non-hiking girlfriend on a relatively short & easy trip up into the Front Range. Plan A was a trip up to Geronimo Meadow via Esperero Trail, but the lot had a 30 minute wait. Instead of waiting, we decided to head over to the always-lovely Ventana Canyon for a hike up to the Maiden Pools.

The hike was neat. There were a ton of cardinals (both male and female) hanging out along the stretch of trail between the first turn to the N and the wilderness boundary. Ventana Wash had lots of water in it. We kept up a brisk pace until we hit the steep climb just before the pools. That was slow going, and my girlfriend looked like she was near death toward the end ;) . At the top of that rise, we saw a kestrel! Unfortunately, it flew away before I could snap a photo.

The pools were very full, and we spent a good while relaxing next to one of them. We had a couple of cans of SanTan Devil's Ale and some saguaro-shaped pretzels (with cheese, pepitas, and green chiles) I had made at 2 AM that morning.

The trip back was uneventful but scenic.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Fremont Cottonwood  Saguaro
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Cardinal
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
_____________________
 
Jan 05 2012
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Pima Canyon Trail #62Tucson, AZ
Pima Canyon Trail #62
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Jan 05 2012
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking6.00 Miles 3,500 AEG
Hiking6.00 Miles   10 Hrs      1.20 mph
3,500 ft AEG   5 Hrs    Break
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Lots of water in Pima Wash, not a lot of people on the trail (only encountered one group). I took my time heading up to Pima Saddle. I was very glad that I had my new Garmin with me because upper Pima Canyon Trail gets rather tough to follow. When I got up to the saddle, I saw that there was a 6,496' peak just to the N and decided to check it out. I'm very glad I did, because the view was incredible. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to stay there for quite a while instead of making the trip over to Kimball.
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Throwing a Wendy
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated

water 1 out of 5water less than maxwater less than maxwater less than max Pima Spring Dripping Dripping
_____________________
 
Oct 07 2011
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Prominent Point via Pima CanyonTucson, AZ
Prominent Point via Pima Canyon
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Oct 07 2011
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking8.00 Miles 3,710 AEG
Hiking8.00 Miles   10 Hrs      1.00 mph
3,710 ft AEG   2 Hrs    Break20 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I'm happy that I hiked to Prominent Point after spending so much time staring at it from Tucson. The trip up was very scenic and very painful. Despite wearing heavy jeans and a very thick coat, my body accumulated quite an array of small puncture wounds from unfriendly vegetation. Luckily, I only had to yank a couple of pieces of cholla out of my leg. That hurts so much more than getting poked by shindaggers!

Feeling so completely alone and isolated so close to Tucson is deliciously weird. The views from the W. summit and the ridgeline leading to it are incredible. Popping out of the bushes onto the ever-busy Pima Canyon Trail looking battered up and half-insane is hilarious!
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Schott's Agave  Twoneedle pinyon
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  PaleoRob Pose
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
_____________________
 
Jul 15 2011
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
Hualapai PeakNorthwest, AZ
Hualapai Peak
Northwest, AZ
Hiking avatar Jul 15 2011
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking7.55 Miles 2,070 AEG
Hiking7.55 Miles
2,070 ft AEG
 
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
This was my first time up in the Hualapais. What a range! The forest is very healthy (little evidence of burns or beetle kill), and it's a mix of ponderosa pine, white fir, aspen, and a bit of Douglas-fir. The hike up to Hualapai Peak is pretty easy, but there's a good bit of steepness right toward the end. I missed the easy route up to the summit and ended up doing lots of class 4 climbing to get up there. The views from the top are right up there with Humphreys (which was easily visible to the E-NE), Brown's, and Wrightson. The descent was uneventful and pleasant.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Arizona Thistle
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Horned Lizard
 Culture
 Culture [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Aircraft  Benchmark  UFO
_____________________
 
Mar 31 2011
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
The Window via VentanaTucson, AZ
The Window via Ventana
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Mar 31 2011
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking12.80 Miles 4,000 AEG
Hiking12.80 Miles   11 Hrs   30 Mns   1.11 mph
4,000 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I went back up to Window Peak because I had so much fun last time. As usual, Ventana Trail was nearly deserted except for several early-morning runners headed back to the trailhead. Finger Rock and Pima seem much more crowded.

I took a long break at the Window because the temperature up there was perfect. The views from Window Peak were fantastic because it was a very clear day. I could see the Chiricahuas & Dos Cabezas, Four Peaks, the Supes, and the giant cloud of pollution over Phoenix. I ended up falling asleep in the little gap between the rocks and napped for a couple of hours. When I woke up, a vulture was circling me. I yelled at it to indicate I was alive and it backed off.

The descent was nicely shady, but still very warm. Despite packing 176 ounces of water, I had to start rationing it into smaller sips during the last several miles. If I hadn't have taken that nap, I would have had a miserably hot and dry descent.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
_____________________
 
Feb 24 2011
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 6
 Photos 206
 Triplogs 12

39 male
 Joined Feb 26 2011
 Phoenix, AZ
The Window via VentanaTucson, AZ
The Window via Ventana
Tucson, AZ
Hiking avatar Feb 24 2011
bikeandhike • Triplogs 12
Hiking12.80 Miles 4,000 AEG
Hiking12.80 Miles   10 Hrs      1.28 mph
4,000 ft AEG
 no routes
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
I decided to bike to the trailhead (about 10 miles and 600' of gain), and I left sometime between 5 and 6. I reached the trailhead a bit before 7, and I started the hike right around 7. The weather during the segment up to the Maiden Pools was cold and cloudy. There was a good bit of water in the pools (noticeably more than there was a week ago). I stopped here for breakfast, and then I went into turbo mode. I encountered a little snow behind the rocks containing The Window.

I reached The Window around 10:30. Since I got there so quickly (by my standards), I decided to spend a while messing around on Esperero Trail. I relaxed for a while at The Window, and then I headed over to Window Peak. There was just a bit of snow along the way. I encountered a ton of ladybugs just before the final tree-assisted climb to the top (which was easy despite looking scary before I got started). I hauled myself up to the summit and spent a while watching clouds and ravens fly by. The view up there is great! After I got back down to the saddle, I decided to hike to the top of the peak on the other side. I'm glad I did, because the view from the top of the rocks near the summit is pretty darn good.

After going back down to the saddle, I took my time working my way back down. I found a great stick (after breaking several) that greatly helped my no-so-great knees handle the descent. I finished around 5. During my entire hike, I only encountered 3 other parties (all in the lower sections of the trail). The bike ride back was a breeze because it was almost entirely downhill. It was a great trip, and I'm so happy that weather/scheduling allowed me to finally make it all the way up to The Window and Window Peak.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Saguaro
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Common Raven  Ladybug beetle
 Geology
 Geology [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Natural Arch
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 1.15 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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