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| Hiking | 29.56 Miles |
6,852 AEG |
| | Hiking | 29.56 Miles | 11 Hrs | | 3.17 mph |
| 6,852 ft AEG | 1 Hour 40 Mns Break | 29 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | With the cooler weather I decided to head up Mazatzal's. I started at the Doll Baby TH and hiked up the road. Near the Bull spring TH, I checked out an old jeep road. The topo's show it going to a mine and connecting with the Brush trail (AZT). Maybe next time I'll take the road to the mine. I went up the Bull Spring trail.
As I approached the intersection where the Bull spring trail used to go, I could see a couple of old jeep roads. I tried to do figure out this 'short-cut' last spring, but it didn't pan out. Call me stubborn; I decided to try it again. This time I was able to stay on the old jeep roads all the way to Buffalo Canyon. The road abruptly ends into this canyon. It seemed weird that the road just ended. I could see a very faint footpath and cow patties to this point. I had a choice to make. I could climb up a short, but very steep drainage or, go up Buffalo canyon. The canyon was about a 1/2 mile long, but not steep. It gradually climbed up. I took Buffalo Canyon. It was an easy hike up. There were no obstacles and I never had to scramble. About a quarter mile in, I came across some old mining equipment. That surprised me, but now it made sense why the road was there. I made to the Red Metal Tank and the Brush trail. I finally found a usable shortcut that cutoff a mile and a couple hundred feet of climbing! 
I took the Bull Spring trail to the Bull Spring proper. The box was dry because the pipe fell out. I put the pipe back in and started dripping. I continued up the creek to the Bull Spring Cabin. This is the only functional cabin left in the Mazatzal's. The crews from the LF Ranch use this cabin. They store oats in the back shed to feed the horses.
I continued down the Bull Spring trail to where it ends at the Wet Bottom Trail. I was very surprise to see that the Wet Bottom trail was very well cairned and free of grass/small brush. I expected the trail to be obscure at best, being this remote. The Wet Bottom Mesa is a cool area. It looks like the Willow fire spared this area. There are nice pine trees and no catsclaw or thorn bushes. The problem is that there is little vegetation besides the pines. When you're on the trail, it's very obvious, but miss a cairn and you could wander. I went past my turn around time. I went back via the trails and not the short-cut. I made it back to the road and went to the East Verde River before heading back to the Jeep. The moon was so bright, that I didn't need my flashlight.
The temps were from cool too cold for the day. It clouded over in the late morning and it rained off and on till dusk. This was a great hike. I really enjoyed exploring the Wet Bottom area, I just wish I could get further back there. The drive back home was very cold. I had to crank the heater all the way to Fountain Hills. |
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"Everywhere is walking distance...If you have the time"
-Stephen Wright |
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