Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

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Apr 17 2021

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,383
Photos 13,558
Triplogs 5,474

53 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Apr 17 2021
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,474

Hiking	13.80 Miles	1,320 AEG

Hiking	13.80 Miles	4 Hrs 56 Mns	3.16 mph
	1,320 ft AEG	34 Mns Break

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	DarthStiller	The_Eagle
	wallyfrack

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Double track and smooth for 98%... it's a road the entire way. Two forgettable loose inclines and a few minutes in a deep sand creekbed round out the horror stories.

The hills remind me of hiking in the foothills around Hemet California. Here, pinion pines dot the wavy hills. Some areas are a sea of loose catclaw but none infiltrate the ten-foot-wide path.

Aside from the southern end of the BCT and this current northern end; I'd recommend the BCT to hikers that have conquered the top hundred az hikes looking to expand their horizons. In theory, the BCT will someday continue to Williams.

Bruce and I have completed from the south end to what is currently signed as the north end. I'm sure the story continues. Notably, as Bruce was saying "we did it" with a quick holler from Chris "no ya haven't"... lol

With lack of documentation by the BCT, who knows. We have not hiked the Copper Mountain Loop by the BCT. It looks cool and I'll hike it, likewise for future segments. But I don't dock brownie points for AZT'rs that ignore the equestrian/bike options, hiking segments out of order, without a kitchen sink strapped to your back, and yadda yadda yadda.

Whether or not the segment today was finished or even tackled correctly is TBD too, the last BCT sign I recall was looking for a lunch spot off-the-road at 9.9-mi as noted by the yellow flag waypoint on my route.

Nevertheless, good times today with Gordie, Vern & Chris!

Named place

Named place [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Cienega Tank

Wildflowers Observation Isolated
One instance of Indian paintbrush, scattered hints of itty bitties

_____________________

- joe

Apr 17 2021

The_Eagle

Guides 9
Routes 1,101
Photos 11,862
Triplogs 2,141

67 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Apr 17 2021
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,141

Hiking	13.97 Miles	1,479 AEG

Hiking	13.97 Miles	4 Hrs 56 Mns	3.16 mph
	1,479 ft AEG	31 Mns Break

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	DarthStiller	joebartels
	wallyfrack

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

For Joe and I, our final segment of the BCT. We started at Carefree Highway and finished today at SR169/General Crook Trail.

Temps were perfect throughout, with light breezes, clouds and even a bit of rain on the drive out.

This section is entirely on two track, so no blood was shed today. Easy hiking with smooth surfaces and minimal AEG. Nothing dramatic out there, but you just get a good feel from the surrounding area and views. It's nice every now and then to be able to hike, enjoy the scenery, and carry on a conversation, without having to look at your feet constantly.

Wally mentioned that this looked like good territory for Prong Horns. I mentioned I'd seen them close to this area off off I-17. Not 5 minutes later we spotted 2 that ran uphill and stared at us and then took off downhill hauling arse. Wally then mentioned this looked like good country for tigers. Luckily it did not pan out this time. Later we saw another solo Prong Horn.

All the Cottonwoods in the washes and spring areas are greening up.

We finished up crossing the General Crook Trail, which Joe refused to walk on with Wally and I.

The BCT ended up being much better than I thought it was going to be and got me out to areas I probably would not have gotten to otherwise.

I've sent more than one email to the address on BCT website with questions. I have yet to hear back from them. We know something is still going on there, because the previous section we hiked had very recent trail re-routing.

We ran into not a single person on the trail all day.

Good to see the boys again.

Eagle Ouuut

	Cedar Tank	Dry	Dry

	Cienega Tank	Dry	Dry

	Osborne Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Pools

	Racetrack Wash	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle
	It looked like the cows enjoyed it.

	Sheep Spring	Dripping	Dripping
	Light flow and pools. The main area is fenced off.

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

1 archive

Apr 17 2021

wallyfrack

Routes 93
Photos 5,919
Triplogs 1,495

62 male

Joined Mar 11 2003
AZ

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Apr 17 2021
		wallyfrack • Triplogs 1,495

Hiking	13.40 Miles	1,320 AEG

Hiking	13.40 Miles	4 Hrs 56 Mns	3.07 mph
	1,320 ft AEG	34 Mns Break

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	DarthStiller	joebartels
	The_Eagle

An early start, a nap in car and a cool breeze all day long. The trail is easy but there are many alternate roads so having the track is essential to staying on course. We saw 3 pronghorn and no other hikers. Pleasant views with the interstate only visible a one point. A nice hike at a good pace with the boys.

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

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6 archives

Apr 17 2021

DarthStiller

Guides 27
Routes 476
Photos 8,999
Triplogs 668

53 male

Joined Jul 05 2006
Mesa, AZ

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

Prescott, AZ

Hiking		Apr 17 2021
		DarthStiller • Triplogs 668

Hiking	13.40 Miles	1,426 AEG

Hiking	13.40 Miles	5 Hrs 8 Mns	2.84 mph
	1,426 ft AEG	25 Mns Break

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	joebartels	The_Eagle
	wallyfrack

With the cool weather forecast for this weekend, Bruce asked if I was interested in the next section of the BCT, the north end terminus. I was planning to continue where I left off from a section south of that, but this fit the bill.

We met Bruce at the north end off of SR169. the turnoff from the road is hard to spot until you're right on top of it, and there is no turning lane. No sign of any official looking trailhead there, or even any BCT markers. Not sure exactly where we saw the last, northernmost marker, it might have been near our lunch spot.

As Joe mentioned, this entire section is various dirt roads. The views are nothing spectacular, but they are pleasant and peaceful. And we didn't see anyone else during the entire hike. The newly built trail from the previous southern section ends at Orme Road. I would imagine at some point these roads which are designated as the official BCT will eventually be replaced by singletrack. I just hope they take it easy with the switchbacks on this section. Walking a quarter mile to gain 30' of elevation seems a bit excessive.

I started out able to keep up with this crew, but as usual, they outpace me after a mile or so. I passed them at Ash Creek when they took a snack break, only to have them pass me again just past my 7 mile mark. We saw a total of 3 pronghorn. the first 2 Wally and Bruce spotted first. By the time Joe and I saw them, they were cruising at an easy 40 mph across the plain. I had no chance at a photo. the 3rd one was on top of a hill and didn't seem as bothered by us, so I got a halfway decent shot of that one.

Had lunch at Sheep Spring after we found the only tree that had a minimum of cow patties under it. We had a nice view of a dead cow in the distance. Bruce and Wally took a closer look at that after lunch. Bruce easily adds one to two extra miles to every hike he does with his side excursions.

Finished up with the actual hike before noon. Surprising considering how far away and how long it was. I had one of my faster overall hiking speeds on this one but I still couldn't keep up with these guys.

Bruce and Joe kept insisting they were done with all of the BCT, and seemed a tad annoyed at my corrections that the loop around Copper Mountain is listed as part of the official trail. Even on HAZ. I have to finish up a section below SR69, but I'll leave that segment for last if they decide to change their minds.

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Jan 04 2019

toddak

Guides 9
Routes 20
Photos 1,385
Triplogs 506

58 male

Joined Nov 15 2005
Jackson, CA

BCT to Highway 169, AZ

Hiking		Jan 04 2019
		toddak • Triplogs 506

Hiking	6.00 Miles	500 AEG

Hiking	6.00 Miles	2 Hrs 30 Mns	2.40 mph
	500 ft AEG

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Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

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Back to try and finish up the BCT north of Orme Road. Hiking NOBO from where I left off earlier this week, I didn't see any more official BCT trail signs, but I seemed to be following the most logical route along a series of rough 2-track roads through rolling hills and ranch land. Just before reaching Highway 169 the route crosses the General Crook #64 trail at a point less than a mile from FR 96, which is the route of the Great Western Trail. If/when the BCT is extended further north I would guess it may follow the GWT.

_____________________

1 archive

Dec 31 2018

toddak

Guides 9
Routes 20
Photos 1,385
Triplogs 506

58 male

Joined Nov 15 2005
Jackson, CA

White BChrisTmas, AZ

Hiking		Dec 31 2018
		toddak • Triplogs 506

Hiking	16.00 Miles	1,000 AEG

Hiking	16.00 Miles	6 Hrs	2.67 mph
	1,000 ft AEG

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Orme Road to General Crook / SR169 - BCT

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Took the BCT north from the Orme Road crossing, until the accumulating snow told me to turn around. The route follows rough two-track over rolling hills and ranch land.

_____________________

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.