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| Hiking | 12.90 Miles |
2,071 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.90 Miles | | | |
| 2,071 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | After hitting up Bearazona on Saturday, made the long drive up to the Blue Range Primitive Area on Sunday afternoon. Originally, there were four of us who were going to be car camping and a couple of us hiking; however, the other group flaked, so my thought of a shuttle hike went out the window. Made it to the Blue Range around 5 pm to light rain and temps in the low 60s. We found a nice campsite near the Bonanza Bill TH, set up camp, and made dinner. The backup plan was to hike from Bonanza Bill to Cow Flat to Franz Spring, which was roughly a 15-mile round trip; however, I continue to have issues with my left posterior tibial tendon, so I was unsure how far I would be able to go.
It was a nice 55 degrees at the start; however, it was already humid from the rain the night before. Bonanza Bill was in pretty good shape overall; there was some deadfall, but it was fairly easy to navigate past. Made it over to the Hinkle Spring area, but did not climb down into Hinkle Spring Canyon to check the water situation, as I was trying to be conservative on the ankle. We continued the small climb up Bonanza Bill to the Tige Rim Trail, where it starts a rocky descent. This was the worst section of the day, and my ankle hated me for it. Tons of loose rocks and no shade at all. After hiking through Bonanza Bill Flat, we arrived at the Cow Flat junction, where we rested and hydrated. At this point, my ankle was killing me, and the humidity had really cranked up from storms all around us, so we decided to call it a day from there. The hike back was a slow, hot grind, and with a bum ankle, it felt like it took forever. As we started back, the dark clouds came in, as did the thunder. We got about 5 minutes of sprinkles, and that was it, fortunately. Got back to the truck around 4, cleaned up, and had a late lunch before making the 5-hour drive back to the valley. Just as we were leaving the TH, the skies opened up and it poured on the drive back up to the 191. Probably my last trip to the Blue Range this year, with fall around the corner and me needing to take some time to heal this ankle. Saw a ton of elk, including a nice-sized bull and a flock of turnkey. Thanks, S, for joining me. |
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Wildflowers Observation Substantial
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Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee.  |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall"){kind=small}
). It was a chilly 43 degrees when we started through the meadow. As has been the case, the trail is in great condition for the first mile or so until you enter the burn, then it's more work to find the old tread and the new sections. Once we approached West Spring, water appeared in the creek in the form of Green Slurpees, which we passed on purchasing. Just before the Campaign junction, I crawled under a tree that was blocking the old tread. Something on the ground there did not like me, as part of my arm and leg turned red and started burning. Rubbing some alcohol on it helped, but it hung around for a couple of hours. We arrived at Oak Flat and decided to hike up the creek as I flashed back to the nightmare that is the trail past this point. An eroded, negative camber, bloody mess that I did not want to repeat. The creek was dry most of the way; however, as we approached the small rock slide area, it appeared above ground, very clear and cold. After a couple of miles of rock-hopping in the creek, my ankle reminded me that it wasn't 100% and let me know it was time to head back—an uneventful hike back as we tried to stay on the old tread as much as it was there. A little past the Cuff Button junction, the old tread climbs high above the bank. Unfortunately, it has two good-sized deadfall sections that require you to hike through baby junipers to get past the first one and get on all fours for the second one, but other than that, the tread is good up on the bank. We heard a gunshot a short distance away near West Spring and saw a couple with a dog down in the creek while we were up on the bank, but did not come across anyone else on the trail the whole day. After getting back to TH and cleaning up, the 4Runner battery decided it was done, fortunately I carry a jumper box, which worked perfectly. On the drive out there were some horses along the side of the road at the upper HC TH, looks like Jack was doing some work at the cabin. Great day to be out in the Supes, trying to work my way back to longer hikes. 
but once you get past the Ellison Ranch it is a poop show. Slow going as we drove to the Pueblo Canyon drainage and decided most of our fillings had rattled out, and turned around. Tons of water on the Pueblo Creek and Devils Chasm drainages, and some portions of Cherry Creek were flowing swimming pools. Hit up a couple of 'roads' scouting out some areas for the fall, and then a quick 'hike' to site V:5:61.It was 104, however, it wasn't that bad in the shade under the cliffs. Thanks, S, for joining our list keeps getting longer. 
