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| Backpack | 37.82 Miles |
9,833 AEG |
| | Backpack | 37.82 Miles | 5 Days | | |
| 9,833 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | We drove up the night before and car camped at Pasture Wash. On the drive in we took FS 2512 which was ok but a bit tedious and narrow in spots. After the trip we took the fence line reservation boundary road out and was a much better way to go.
Day1 about 8 miles
After the car camp at Pasture Wash we setup the shuttle first thing in the morning which took about 30 minutes. All loaded up and ready to go we hiked across the roughly two miles to the Point Huitzil Rim. I had the route from a previous trip but a large carin marks the drop off the rim on the route. Huitzil IMO is one of the best off trail routes in the canyon. Route finding, sporty down climbs and fantastic views the entire way. The rabbit hole tree down climb was a lot of fun!
Eventually made our way down to the canyon floor and some easy Supai slabs to hike. There were quite a few good potholes for water and we took a lunch break at one to the spots. After lunch we continued to the huge pour off and the famed ledge of death. Of course we took the route to the right and did not traverse the ledge of death. Back in the canyon it's a boulder hopping/sliding hike with a few large boulder obstacles. However, one of the boulder obstacles had filed in with sand so it was a non issue this time.
It was slow going but we made it to Muav layer and water before the arch. It's a really scenic section only to be capped off by the Royal Arch. First night camp was really nice at the arch...good temps with a low of 56 according to the thermometer.
Day 2
Next morning with welcome overcast conditions we hiked back up canyon to the exit route with a traverse across the Tonto over the rappel. Took our time setting up the rappel with total of 6 in our group. There was a really good rope in place so we used that but had a couple of our own harnesses. We got through the rappel efficiently and headed down to Toltec Beach and camp for night 2.
Setup up camp and then day hiked over to Elves Chasm in the afternoon about 2.6 miles roundtrip. Once at Elves several us took the swim...water was cold but not as cold as the Colorado at our camp on Toltec Beach. There was nobody else at Elves so we spent hour and half there and also pumped some water to take back to camp. Back at camp it was a bit warmer overnight and the wind also kicked up so there was quite a bit of blowing sand in the tent.
Day3 about 10 miles from Toltec Beach to Copper Canyon
Packed up and headed out along the Colorado towards Garnet Creek about 1.6 miles. It's more of trail than the route to Elves. At Garnet we found the route up the side canyon to reach the Tonto level which is the last obstacle and the start of the Tonto Trail. Once on Tonto Trail it was smooth sailing with easy trail to follow. Fortunately it was a bit cooler than previous days with no shade on the Tonto. Eventually we made it to camp at Copper Canyon. On average the group hauled about 7 to 8 liters of water from Toltec Beach because we did not know the water situation in Copper. However, there was a small pool about tenth of mile downstream and larger pools 1/2 mile and 0.8 mile downstream. My guess is the pools don't last long after the rains but if there has been good rain within 10 to 14 days then potholes are a good bet. Great camp spot at Copper and another pleasant night!
Day4
This was the easiest hike of the trip to the next camp at South Bass and like day 2 we had overcast conditions in the morning. About 5.6 miles to South Bass and we bypassed the short cut down to Bass Tanks and instead went to the South Bass - Tonto Trail junction. We setup camp around Noon and then packed for a day hike down to Bass Beach and Colorado River. We arrived on Bass Beach and there was a large group camped there but we had an entire section of beach to ourselves. Spent almost two hours relaxing on the beach and went for couple of swims. Eventually we headed back to camp but some of us stopped at Bass Tanks to filter water for camp. Back at camp another nice night with temps a little cooler with overnight low at 51.
Day5
Last day and we got an earlier start than previous days. Out of camp about 620am...Kathy and I had to get a jump on the faster people in the group. This trip really is front loaded because hiking good trail on the last two days is very different than the route finding on Huitzil. So basically an easy hike out to the trailhead arriving before noon. 9L and another in our group were fast and completed the shuttle just as Kathy and I reached the trailhead...great timing 
Talked to a few people at the trailhead who were heading in and gave them info about the rappel and water situation. Great trip with excellent weather!! |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Little bit of water in West Chevelon Canyon which was also near the bear sighting. Otherwise pleaseant loop in an area I've not hiked before!
