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| Hiking | 29.94 Miles |
950 AEG |
| | Hiking | 29.94 Miles | | | |
| 950 ft AEG | | 35 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Well, I wanted to just have a few days to spend on the trail taking my time (hence three day for a 30 mile loop). The Cabin Loop was my pick based on the feedback from this site.
I decided to walk the loop clockwise starting on the Fred Haught Trail (#22) to the U-Bar Trail (#28) to the Barbershop Trail (#91) cutting south on the Houston Brothers Trail (#18) finely back to the trailhead on the General Crook Trail or the FR300.
I didn't make campfires, heck I would have been hard pressed to make one with all the rain.
Day One
Temperatures: H ~ 52, L ~ 47
Late start, I didn't arrive at the Fred Haught Trail head until 2:20pm. I was the only one there although the logbook showed a few people had used the trail within the last few days. The Fred Haught Trail is very well marked with "Cabin Loop" signs attached to trees (these signs are reflective).
The day was very overcast and I was ready for rain. About one hour down the trail the rain started. On went the rain gear and the hike continued despite the rain/hail. The rain stopped about 4:30pm but the clouds still hung low.
There was a lot of water in the stream and pools.
I setup camp just before dark. It rained a few times during the night but was for the most part dry by morning.
Day Two
Temperatures: H ~ 53, L ~ 44
Lazy morning didn't hit the trail until 6:45am. I had a little trouble following the trail as it crossed and ran along Forest Roads (had an extra half hour walk when I turned left onto a road instead of right).
I crossed over to the U-Bar Trail at the Pinchot Cabin. The cabin is still standing but is all boarded up. The Pinchot Spring was flowing with plenty of water.
The U-Bar Trail is not well marked for the most part I had to rely on old blazes on trees. After crossing into Dane Canyon there were large trees that had fallen across the trail. I saw quite a few elk (several herds) as well as some deer.
Dane Spring was running, but only out of the larger pipe, about 1 liter a minute.
About 5pm the coyotes started up a singing group as they hunted or maybe the hunt was over and it was the dinner bell. Started raining hard while making camp, kept raining until 8pm. Another cold night as the sky would clear, then the clouds would roll in and the rain would start again.
Day Three
Temperatures: H ~ 52, L ~ ?
Up early and was on the trail before light. I transitioned to the Barbershop Trail, there were a few "Cabin Loop" signs along the trail. I had to keep a sharp eye out for blazes and markers. For most of the day the sky was overcast, but that didn't hamper the beautiful landscape.
I was hoping when I turned south on the Houston Brothers Trail it would be better marked, nope, but I was able to find my way without any issues.
I was very glad to change over to the FR300 to walk the last five miles to my vehicle. The sun came out and I got to use the sunglasses I had been lugging for the last two days. 
Things I was very glad I took:
Topo map
iPhone with GPS
Extra water reservoirs as many of the streams were still dry even after several days of rain.
Rain Kilt (made out of a plastic bag)
12 volt tire pump (I had a flat tire when I got back to my vehicle) 
Things I wish I had taken:
Two more pairs of socks (as I couldn't get one of the two pairs I had to dry out after the first day)
Space blanket (I usually have one, but I forgot to pack it this time)
Rain jacket with pit zips
Thoughts on trip 
Was I glad I did it? Yes.
Would I do it again? Heck yes!
I wish I had made campfires, but that might have been way to much effort for a fast three day trip. The "Cabin Loop" signs were for the most part placed in the areas people traveling the AZT would see them, I was very glad for the old tree blazes on the rest of the trails. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
Most of the ferns had turned red and a few trees had fall colors |
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Pinchot Spring |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| | | Several good size pools | | _____________________
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Route Editor
Route Scout
I did see two elk while trucking on down the trail.
I dry camped a short distance down Barbershop Trail. Wow, did it get cold! The temperature had dropped to 40 just after the sun set and fell below freezing before dawn. I had some ice in one of my water bottles when I got up, as well as frost on the rain fly of my tent. I'm glad I didn't cowboy camp that night!
). Repacked everything and with a spring in my step I was off again. A short time later I passed yet two more people on the trail (man, I've got to do this trail in the middle of the week next time). Barbershop Spring was flowing so I didn't need to carry all the water I got from Dane Spring ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
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OK I do have a complaint about Route Scout. Every mile it would call out times and information (which I liked), but that was proceeded by some random bird call (I've since turned that feature off). There was many a time I would stop to look for the bird making the calls just to find Route Scout was the source. The weather once again smiled on me with scattered clouds and a wonderful breeze to keep things cool. I clicked off another 9+ miles to get back to the vehicle. Not 20 minutes after I arrived at my vehicle it started to rain, what timing! 
. At one point I was way too far up slope and had to bushwhack my way back down to the stream. There were cairn from time to time but some did not lead to anything that looked like a trail. Many areas were overgrown or impassable.
. I yelled at the clouds what the forecast was, it just kept raining, so I packed up and headed back. Finding the trail out was a little easier and I made it back to the trailhead in 4 1/2 hours.
