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| Hiking | 13.90 Miles |
2,900 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.90 Miles | 7 Hrs 50 Mns | | 1.77 mph |
| 2,900 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | At the halfway point of this year approaching, I'm ahead for total mileage than most other years I haven't traveled to Serbia over the last decade  (which has gone by frighteningly fast  ). Still, most of those miles have been within the Phoenix metro area  . while it's nicer than jogging on the local canal, and it's also nice to do a 10 mile hike and be home by noon, it's also really nice to spend the majority of your day out and away from the valley on a mini vacation, up in some cooler and greener environs  .
We basically did the Pueblo Canyon Overlook via Murphy Trail hike, but we started from the Reynolds Creek TH at the end of FR410. We started hiking just before 8am and the trail was very overgrown with vegetation. This hike reminded me very much of PA with all the greenery. The last few visits I've done in PA we've done some hikes and the main thing that I noticed was how high the grass is along the trail (waist high). The first 2 miles of this hike was mostly that high, and covered with dew, making my boots soaked the whole time. Within the first half mile mile, we encountered some nettles, and I was surprised to notice that they sting thru clothing. It only lasts a minute or so, so it wasn't bad. I've seen nettles in Serbia, although they look a bit different. The AZ nettles seem to be stronger, but much less prevalent.
Joe was having a lot of fun with his smart phone. That was fine with me because he takes more pictures now, so he hikes more at my speed. Although, he has developed a habit of asking flowers to smile at him, and he's grown a new appendage, the malignant selfie stick  .
Once we got to the Murphy Trail 141, we noticed that it was taped off with yellow tape and a big yellow sign from the FS that said NO ENTRY, due to severe fire danger. Our plan was to take this trail to the Rim Trail and then to the overlook. The closing of this trail created a dilemma. It took about 4 seconds of debate with no eye contact to decide to carry on to our destination  . The dew soaking our shoes and legs make the decision easier in terms of the fire danger threat .
The Murphy Trail 141 down to the Rim Trail wasn't too steep, but overgrown enough to make me fall twice from slipping from the moisture. and the lack of visibility from not seeing the ground from the vegetation also contributed.
The Rim Trail was mostly level and easy to follow. The lookout from inside the wash over Cold Spring Canyon is phenomenal, especially with shade and a dead cow skeleton right there.
Edwards Spring was mostly dry, with no visible water flow. Yikes. Our hike back to the TH took about an hour less than on the way out, probably due to the mostly downhill parts and not spending time taking pics.
The weather was mostly cooler than Phoenix, the high temps were lower 80s. It was much more humid, but the furnace effect from Phx was gone. The ride out and back and the scenery were also very nice. I think we saw more wildlife on FR288 than we did on our entire hike. |
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