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| Fraser Peak 4618 Loop, AZ | |
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| | Fraser Peak 4618 Loop, AZ | | | |
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Fraser Peak 4618 Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 6.10 Miles |
2,245 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.10 Miles | 8 Hrs 17 Mns | | 1.29 mph |
| 2,245 ft AEG | 3 Hrs 34 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | From my first March-2007 hike experience on this south section of Millsite Canyon Trail #237, I had always recalled being in awe at the scenic, rugged canyon beauty of this entire area which lies just outside of the Eastern Superstition Wilderness Boundary. I never thought I would have the opportunity or have the off-trail experience level to hike some of these imposing inner canyon areas in from Trail #237.
Fast forward a few years.. On 12/24/13, Brian (BeeBee) and I hiked to the summit of Hackberry Butte 4230 which resides off-trail on the north section of this same Trail #237. Later the same week from Brian's "Summits On The Air" (SOTA) Club listing, he located an interesting Benchmark Peak in the area named Fraser Peak Benchmark 4618. I soon reviewed HAZ-MapDEX to locate it and compared my 12/24 Hackberry Butte 4230 picset and located it  http://hikearizona.com/photo=382880 . I soon started the wheels turning with some initial off-trail route planning and needed second opinions from Larry (Oregon Hiker) and Brian with our group hike date set for Mon-1/27/14.
I had initially planned this hike to head in off-trail from the north side of Fraser Peak to initially exit off-trail from Coffee Flat Trail #108. Larry reviewed my plans and concluded that it could be "iffy" with possible dense vegetation and that we (he & myself) were probably not in good enough physical condition to take on what he estimated to be my 10 mile R/T with 3190 AEG  (I still think my initial plan might work with some route tweaking and a younger body  . I might still post on HAZ my planning "drawn non-field data" GPS Route with WPs in case others might consider it. Only a 2WD high clearance vehicle is needed to reach my proposed Park/TH Start at the very end of FR172 where as a 4WD high clearance vehicle is required to reach the now recommended Hike Description Park/TH Start location).
Prior-to our 1/27/14 hike date, the "official hiking route in" was posted and confirmed. I thought it would be particularly sweet and rewarding if we could come up with a viable "lolly pop loop" return route from Fraser Peak summit. I asked Larry to check this possibility out and he spent considerable time planning and drawing this, our return GPS Loop Route. My sincere thanks to Larry for not only planning our recommended and very successful return loop route, but also leading us four hikers safely down it which was an exceptional effort in itself  .
This is a very impressive area to off trail hike. My first time ever taking 110 snaps on a 6 mile R/T hike and after review and editing still ending up with a total of ~84 keepers for my personal files and still the need to eliminate more prior-to my HAZ picset posting. I did attempt to do a decent job of documenting in pics our entire return loop section for any others who may be interested in this same loop hike.
An excellent and most memorable hiking day out with Brian, Larry, and Randy that I will always remember |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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| (Outside.. "there is No Place Like It!!") |
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