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| Hiking | 5.48 Miles |
750 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.48 Miles | 2 Hrs 5 Mns | | 2.63 mph |
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| 750 ft AEG | | | |
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| no partners | | Where to start??? First of all let me say I love reading all the trip logs of the areas that I hike. Every trip log adds a new unique perspective to the puzzle. Often times, I read logs before and after a hike to try to connect the dots a little bit better. If you have never hiked in this area, you are missing out. Berry Swicegood did a fantastic write up for Pike's Peak (which I feel certain is the the same as Peak 3465-Hieroglyphic Mountain). In his write up, he provides a link Jim Stotlz for whom this trail is named after. I highly recommend clicking on that link or simply You Tubing Walkin Jim Stotlz. His music and photos are truly meaningful if you have any connection to the trails you are hiking on.
As for the hike... Started off from TH going clockwise. This was a first. Previous times, I've hiked going counter clockwise. This changed things up nicely. Instead of catching glimpses of Lake Pleasant on this part of the trail I was treated to cacti covered views and jagged mountains in the distance. It was 2 miles to get to the Little Jim Trail. I was surprised that the trail to get to the Little Jim was as faint as it was. Because of the recent rains green growth was everywhere. The trail was evident, but it just had not been trodden on frequently. The same held true for the Little Jim Trail as it headed north over rolling hills. For all the healthy foliage, I was disappointed that the flowers were not more abundant. I encountered my first wildlife - a young steer, with budding horns - snorted warningly as I entered one of several washes that I had to traverse. This wash was the one just prior to the Little Jim connecting back to the Big Jim Trail. I was surprised to find what appeared to be a small, but active spring. The water originated just beyond where the trail turned up the bank, trickled for about 20 feet into a pool where it stopped.
The hike back on Big Jim was uneventful, though I was startled by two burros. I was able to catch a couple of glimpses of Lake Pleasant, but the views of the lake are much better from the southern half of the Big Jim than the northern, the elevation being higher on that part of the trail. The trail back was much more evident, making me wonder if hikers are doing in and outs, rather than loops.
My words really don't do justice for this area. There are very few trails, close to the valley, that are this easy to follow that get you this close to nature. And usually, you get this smorgasbord all to yourself. As I did today  |
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