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| Hiking | 8.60 Miles |
759 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.60 Miles | | | |
| 759 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Arizona Trail Passage 13 Oracle
The Housholder Family Hikers finished segment 13 on two separate occasions. First enjoying a Saturday Lunch at the Oracle Cafe then visiting Oracle State Park and afterwards hiking from the American Flag Trailhead only a short couple miles over to Webb Road at the O shaped turnaround where we staged one truck at. Here was our review for the Oracle Patio Cafe, which has become a favorite of ours!
"Be Pie Partisan!" October 29, 2016
One of the greatest things about Segment Hiking the Arizona Trail are all the fun, State Parks and nearby attractions like deliciously awesome "partner" restaurants we would have never known existed had it not been for the AZT.
The Oracle Patio Cafe and Food Market is one of these hidden gems where some of the best gourmet breakfast and lunch dishes are served up for our "Hangry" kids to enjoy before hitting the open trail.
Ben and I scarfed down the Homemade Corned Beef Hash. As seen on their menu: "Literally homemade, we start with fresh Certified Angus Beef brisket, brine it in our special brine for ten day then roast it long and slow. Hand diced and mixed with potatoes, carrots, onions and herbs it makes great hash. We bake it up and serve it with two eggs over the top and a side of fresh fruit."
Bryce jumped all over the Biscuits and Gravy – "Freshly baked biscuits with an original chorizo gravy. A little spicy!"
Karolien throughly enjoyed the panini styled "Monte Cristo – Ham and swiss between two pieces of French toast grilled to melted goodness. Served with fruit or potato and syrup."
Bianka had the kids giant grilled cheese panini which was HUGE! It even came with a side order fruit bowl. I wonder if she will try the "Ultimate Grilled Cheese – Cheddar cheese, smoked bacon and ripe tomatoes on grilled bread with pesto aioli", on our next visit.
The food market was stocked with plenty of natural foods and things a starving hiker would surely enjoy.
Arrive early on Saturdays this place closes early, around 3:00 PM. We wanted to get a fresh homemade pie to-go but didn't make the close after a long day on the AZT. Here were some of the yummy choices we will be eagerly awaiting on our next return visit:
Cream Pies, Fruit Pies, Key Lime, Lemon Meringue, Carrot Cake, Cheesecake, Coconut Cake, Fresh Apple Cake and even a Chocolate Torte!
Thanks for the great service, we would highly recommend a drive to the Oracle Patio Cafe it is well worth it!
oraclepatiocafe.com/
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After the hearty lunch we headed over to the Oracle State Park Visitors Center to quiz the ranger on the AZT Passage. He mentioned there was a turn around spot where we could park a vehicle along the Webb Road, because we had only a few hours before needing to get home for a friend's birthday party. So off to that car park we went staging our truck, and then straightway to the American Flag Trailhead. The AFTH was a fantastic place to take those old ranch looking photos, in face after the hike we returned and there was a Tucson photographer there taking some wedding shots. I was able to get some nice pictures of Bianka and the kids around the trailhead before departing home.
We enjoyed the two or three miles of AZT towards Webb Road as it was very flat and easy going. There were some boulders with mostly desert shrubs in a transition zone as this is around 4000 feet in elevation. In no time at all we were back at our vehicles and our first visit to the friendly town of Oracle was complete.
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January 7, 2017
Webb Road to Tiger Mine Trailheead
Our second visit to Oracle was just as fun as the first. This time we started hiking from the Webb Road O turnaround after staging a vehicle up at Tiger Mine Trailhead. This is a very nice desert transition zone from 4000 feet mostly flat with some moderate hills. We were able to bring our new puppy "Fenix" on her first AZT hike and Bryce's friend Danny on his second hike with us! Fenix was super excited and very spastic all along the way and the cool January weather naturally helped. After a few small hills we found ourselves enjoying lunch at the Windmill before attacking the upward sloping newly constructed ridgeline trail. Recently finished by AZT workers this trail was in great shape and quite enjoyable, Thanks!
From the ridge we could see for miles and miles, including the Catalina Mountains and much more! After what seemed like an endless steady climb we approached the summit and began the downhill push towards the highway. Once we arrived to the highway we enjoyed a fantastic snack before crossing underneath the road and heading up the other side road towards the Tiger Mine Trailhead. About 6 miles of hiking all together!
The reward for a day's hiking was a couple of the Oracle Cafe's Homemade Pies! I remember scarfing down the Blueberry it was to die for. The kids loved getting their after hike award. Remember to get to the Patio Cafe early as they close around 3 or 4 o'clock on Saturdays! |
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