KarMann's Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Nov 14 2015

KarMann

Routes 2
Photos 16
Triplogs 4

55 male

Joined Mar 03 2015
Manchester, UK

Ironwood Forest Nat'l Monument 15th Anniversar, AZ

Hiking		Nov 14 2015
		KarMann • Triplogs 4

Hiking	2.00 Miles

Hiking	2.00 Miles	6 Hrs	0.50 mph
		2 Hrs Break

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Ironwood Forest NM apparently has an annual "Meet The Monument" even on their anniversary. This year, it caught my attention, and, since I'd been meaning to check the place out anyway, I figured this would be the perfect opportunity.

Despite the rather vague directions, but with reasonably helpful signage, I got to the site just north of Ragged Top just barely in time (not generally a morning person) to catch up with the "photography walkabout" which was the main thing I wanted to get in on. A rather short walk, maybe a mile and a half tops, but of course, we were spending lots of time talking about camera settings, backlighting, depth of field, etc., along with the potential photographic subjects, animal, vegetable, and mineral. The one that surprised me most was that small, low-quality geodes & nodules are rather common in the rock there. After we reached one modest hilltop, we figured we just had to go on to the next one, which was blocking our view of Picacho Peak to the north. Once again, despite its warmth, the protection of my leather duster was much appreciated. One member of our party seemed to be quite proficient at making friends with the local chollas; I even got a couple of segments on my own shoes.

When we wrapped that up, I found that some talks had been switched around, so I just caught the tail end of the one I was looking forward to a bit, about the desert bighorn sheep. When that was over, I spent some time looking at the booths, and talking with some of the speakers, and then listened to the talk about the local archaeology, until it was time for the botany walk.

Joined up with that, even less walking & more talking, learned a few new-to-me plant details. Maybe as much as half a mile all told, but then, I wasn't in it for the miles, of course. Near the end of that one, I spotted a couple of nearby lizards, as yet unidentified beyond "not collared, not spiny, not skink." At the end of that walk, it was time to call it a day. Inquired about camping there, and was happy to learn that while there aren't any fancy-schmancy campsites, it's free to camp there. Downside: much immigrant/coyote activity in the area, so there's that.

Wildflowers Observation Light

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J. Randall Owens

Nov 12 2015

KarMann

Routes 2
Photos 16
Triplogs 4

55 male

Joined Mar 03 2015
Manchester, UK

Mount Fagan East

Tucson, AZ

Mount Fagan East

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Nov 12 2015
		KarMann • Triplogs 4

Hiking	1.99 Miles	428 AEG

Hiking	1.99 Miles	3 Hrs 25 Mns	1.04 mph
	428 ft AEG	1 Hour 30 Mns Break

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Victory!

I was hoping to try the north approach to Mount Fagan next time, but when I got off the northwest trail last Friday, I discovered that my MagLite's body had separated from its head, and fallen out of the holster, which only really grips the head part. I might have just let it go and bought a new one, except a) it has my name engraved on it courtesy of one of my Air Force buddies some 15 years ago, and b) I'm stubborn. So, today, I launched the SAR.

Since I had no idea where it had dropped out, but was hoping it was in one of the clear spots where I'd taken breaks last week and it would be relatively easily spotted, I was going extra slow on the way in. Good thing I RouteScouted last week, so I could follow the trail I took then pretty closely. But between checking the route every 5 feet (at least that's what it felt like) and trying to peer into all the grass and every pile of prickly pear pads in case it might be there, yeah, I took my sweet time.

But, at just about one mile in, it paid off, and I managed to spot the flashlight body lying in the grass along a relatively steep section of the trail (such as it is). Since I was pretty close to one of those clearings, I went on just a bit further, and had myself a Victory Lunch.

On the way back, not being concerned with following last week's route any more, I tried a different way, and I think it's a rather better way than the one I took before. So, if I try the NW approach again in the future, I've got that going for me. Between the better route & not checking the ground all the way, it looks like I was going about three times as fast as on the way in.

After getting back to the car, since it was still fairly early & had plenty of Sun left, I decided to go out of my way a bit and check out the area of the trailhead for the north approach. There are lots of signs on the way in warning of "private road" and "no national forest access," so I'm not so sure about that. It does look like a much easier route, though, if I can get past that issue.

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J. Randall Owens

Nov 06 2015

KarMann

Routes 2
Photos 16
Triplogs 4

55 male

Joined Mar 03 2015
Manchester, UK

Mount Fagan East

Tucson, AZ

Mount Fagan East

Tucson, AZ

Hiking		Nov 06 2015
		KarMann • Triplogs 4

Hiking	3.21 Miles	775 AEG

Hiking	3.21 Miles	7 Hrs	0.71 mph
	775 ft AEG	2 Hrs 30 Mns Break

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This was my first real hike in a loooong time, so it was rather slow going for me, especially with the lack of trail.

First thing I noticed is that the roads to get there are no longer gravel, they've been paved, except the last 400' or so before the concrete pad, where the road has been completely torn up, except for the pad itself. There's a gate at that point now.

Once actually on the trail, after a couple of false starts*, the first half mile was easy going on social trail. Then, that petered out as far as I could tell, and it got more challenging, especially with my doubts about which route I might want to follow. In hindsight, it seems like following ridgelines is generally the best way to go here. Plenty of prickly pears all around, and further in/up, quite a bit of beargrass. Ocotillos especially on the southern slopes & ridgeline, yucca on the north. Occasional fishhook barrel cacti & chollas; I pulled a lot of spines of all shapes & sizes out of my boots & pants.

I turned back just about in time, I guess; the Sun was setting behind the mountains to the west just as I got back to the easy-to-follow part of the social trail. I guess I cut it pretty close on the water supply, since when I got back to the car and decided to have a last sip before driving home, I suddenly found myself sucking on air. I'd noticed the pack seemed a bit lighter than when I set out in the morning.

There are a couple of bare spots here & there along the ridgeline which looks like they've perhaps been cleared & used in the past. No trash, just conspicuously bare. I had an extended lunch break at one of them. As I said, not really in shape for this kind of hike just yet; I wasn't really expecting to reach the summit, but wanted to see how far I would get.

I didn't see another person the whole time, or even any mammals of any kind, for that matter. A couple of hawks, many smaller birds, no lizards or snakes. Only one piece of trash for me to take out.

* First realizing that the camera tripod was rather heavy & likely not especially necessary (it does simplify taking the big panoramas), and then that the simultaneous waist pack & backpack I wanted to try out just wasn't going to work.

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J. Randall Owens

3 archives

Oct 03 2015

KarMann

Routes 2
Photos 16
Triplogs 4

55 male

Joined Mar 03 2015
Manchester, UK

Lava Flow Trail (Bonito)

Flagstaff, AZ

Lava Flow Trail (Bonito)

Flagstaff, AZ

Hiking		Oct 03 2015
		KarMann • Triplogs 4

Hiking	1.00 Miles

Hiking	1.00 Miles	2 Hrs	1.00 mph
		1 Hour Break

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DraculBack

This was my second time bringing an overseas visitor here. I spent a lot of time on the pictures, so spent just about two hours on the trail. If you weren't setting up a tripod repeatedly & insistently reading all the signs, it'd likely be much faster, of course.

It's hard to say which I like more here, the lava flows proper, or the fields of cinders.

Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated

Wildflowers Observation Moderate
I especially liked the small red flowers poking up from the cinders.

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J. Randall Owens

1 archive

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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