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| Hiking | 8.00 Miles |
1,804 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.00 Miles | 3 Hrs 35 Mns | | 2.23 mph |
| 1,804 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Got down to Cottonwood Camp around noonish and the sun was out few clouds. A bolt broke on my rear sway bar, so had to quickly improvise at Cottonwood Camp. I used the wire cutters on my M-9 bayonet and clipped some barbed-wire. A friendly older couple on ATV asked if i was fine, yes. I use the Strong old Barbed-wire to loop it through the hole and secure it from braking and the whole bar falling off for time being until replacement bolt. Fixed it before the hike cuz did not want to deal with that after.
Drove just around the old water tank and there was an opening in the fence that led me back to a nice shaded parking spot. Sure enough I cross over a small ridge into the wash and look up and the Trail-head for Lower Solder Camp Trail is right there! The first cairn had a gallon of water (half-full). Follow the trail with the cairns and through the wash to where you start to a slight ascent passing through into the four peaks wilderness. Short break, I could just tell that from studying and reading the other logs and MAP that this was the killer part next. You get to a "Y" in the trail go right (thins out) and this really is a straight grind 900ft almost 45 degree angle in parts. About halfway up 900ft is starting raining and that was nice. Grind it out to the top find another trial marker for Lower Soldier Camp Trail. Hiked up to the top on the old jeep trial SR 401 and the views were quite rewarding all around. It cleared off so I chill up there for like 20 or so mins took a few pics of four peaks with clouds was cool. Great rock up there to sit on and check the views.
Back down... Follow SR 401 back down its very rocky and challenging but the views of Weaver and the Superstitions are great. There is one more uphill grind on the way back and very rocky. Saw one ATCer on the way down. I think if I do this one alone again I would go back Lower Soldier Camp Trail and possibly hike the 900ft grind a couple times (return the way you came if you do this). Follow SR 401 to Cottonwood Camp and game over for the day have a few shots of Belvedere vodka and light a campfire then camp or something or go home.
Also, the altitude is not that different but at the top of SR 401 its was very chilly on this day and back down at camp was warm. I really enjoyed this hike and look forward to doing it again soon or finding more trails and connectors in the area. Will have pics soonish... |
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