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| | | Trans Goldfield Alternate, AZ | | | |
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Trans Goldfield Alternate, AZ
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| Hiking | 11.75 Miles |
2,654 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.75 Miles | 9 Hrs 13 Mns | | 1.46 mph |
| 2,654 ft AEG | 1 Hour 10 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Not really sure what to call this one. Settled on "Trans Goldfield Alternate". The original Trans Goldfield hike has been on the radar for a couple years. A few weeks ago, my hiking buddy suggested an alternate route going from N>S or S>N instead of W>E. I scouted Rhyodacite last week and this was the day to test it out. This route hits Dome, Panorama Peak, Peak 3076, and Rhyodacite Canyon.
The path up to Dome was surprisingly faint considering it is the high point. The way up wasn't bad and the eastern facing rock walls lit up in that classic gold color in the morning light. After signing the summit register we hopped down to the tanks and wrapped around some larger walls to start the trip over to Panorama. The way out to Panorama was less difficult than expected.
On the eastern side of Panorama we found a set of "2024" Balloons trapped in some brush. If you have ever wondered where balloons end up when you let them go into the sky, the answer is the Tonto National Forest. I am pretty much a balloon collector at this point. The 2024 balloons finally met their end at the hands of my trekking polls. I packed them up and we continued to Peak 3076.
Up until this point, we used gps routes posted on this site. I used the official route for Dome Mountain Loop and once on top of that I switched to DixieFlyer's alternate route that included Panorama Peak (thank you). With no route to go on, I switched over to a few screengrabs I had taken in Google Earth 3D. Minimally bushwacky, very doable. It took just under 4.5 hours to hit Peak 3076 from Wolverine Gate. The original plan was to backtrack a bit and use a ridge to go down and connect with the original Trans Goldfield route. Instead of doing that, we took a more direct route. It was steeper but manageable.
Things didn't slow down until we connected with the original route. From mile 6.5 - 7 it was snails pace. Lots of catclaw. Very overgrown. In this section there are some very interesting overhangs or caves or whatever you would like to call them. After that little slog, it was back through Rhyodacite (where I was the week before), out and around the bald eagle stuff and back to the car.
These miniature thru hikes are a good challenge. I think the only two left in the Phoenix metro area to knock off are the White Tanks (eh) and the Sierra Estrella ridgeline. Trips like this never go how you think they are going to go. Connecting the peaks on this one ended up being the easiest part.
Cool trip. Lots more to do in the Goldfields. |
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