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| Hiking | 24.84 Miles |
4,278 AEG |
| | Hiking | 24.84 Miles | 10 Hrs 20 Mns | | 2.89 mph |
| 4,278 ft AEG | 1 Hour 45 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Jumped the gun on this one. Fourth year in a row, keep finding reasons to revisit this loop. This year it was for the big flow. Gage down stream by the Verde confluence said 75cfs. Was a lot lower than the 3000+ from the previous two weeks, but to be honest I still have little frame of reference for those numbers. I do understand, however, the provisional data disclaimer on the USGS website after this hike. Ended up fording the creek over my waist twice. Cold water, fast flowing. As the temps warm and the flow subsides, I think it'll prove a great year for Taylor Cabin and this stretch of Sycamore and all its top tier swimming holes.
Casner Trail, if you're thinking of driving it, was super eroded in the last year. There were tire tracks, so somebody managed to do it, but I can't imagine the set up you'd need for a couple of the switchbacks.
Taylor Cabin Trail is very much deteriorated since March last year. The big washouts are now impassible. More of the route is off trail. It's tough. Damage seemed worse this year. Little snow left up top, but what's there was iced over and tough to get across. By now probably good.
Got down to Sycamore and there were a dozen elk on the other side heading to the water. What was once a wide rocky section of the creek is now a deep mud hole. Water was too high, but I didn't want to head back up TC through the burn. Managed to stay dry by bushwhacking along the south side of the creek. Had to climb through some brush and over the flood debris. Got buzzed by a private helicopter flying through the cliff walls some way down.
Had to get wet to mid shin to get to the crossing where Sycamore Basin is still around. After that I realized I would have to cross again to get to the cabin, and it didn't hit me until later the most difficult crossing would be on Dogie sometime down the trail. Entered the creek to the knee on the rocky banks. The middle went above my waist. As the water shallowed up, it got rockier, and I fell into the creek with my clothes still on. Stumbled up and fell again. Got through it, hustled to the cabin. Earlier, climbing Casner, I saw a car drive in to Dogie TH, and I thought if no one was there by the time I got to Taylor Cabin, the water was too high for them to cross. Took off all my clothes and put them out on the line. The cabin, despite now mostly not having a roof, provided nice cover from the wind.
What a nervous several miles it was up Dutch Kid and down Dogie. To memory, a total blur until the Dogie crossing. Where the trail heads it was deep pools and white water, up stream even deeper pools edging out into cliffs. I found a line. Pulled my pack up my back and strapped the waistband around my chest after packing my warm clothes and electronics inside. Pulled a branch out of the flood debris. Rocky knee depth, and then a wide section nearly chest deep. There was a tree bending with the flow but 1/3rd the way out of the water. Climbed on top and after much consideration dropped my pack down my back and jumped to the shallow water several feet away. Scrambled onto the other bank and got rid of my boots opting for the warm sand. Bundled up and after a long while headed up Dogie.
Met one person on the way who had turned back at the crossing. The trail is in much the same shape as it's ever been. The tanks along the way had the most drinkable water I've seen in them. Awesome day. Would never do again. Great year for it, just got there too early. |
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