| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 7.00 Miles |
1,933 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.00 Miles | 4 Hrs 18 Mns | | 1.78 mph |
| 1,933 ft AEG | 22 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | Another avoid-human-encounters hike
When we last hiked this trail just under a year ago we encountered no humans so it was a good choice to keep up our unbroken string of hikes with no human contact.
Unlike our usual parking spot by the tree near the trailhead we parked at the 'lower' trailhead. We didn't think the short but very rough drive would save any time, which was true but it proved to be an energy-burning start to the hike.
The hike itself was uneventful and not much to write about save for the amount of haphazard clippings of brush left on the trail. It was much like the hack job we encountered along FR 191 to the Mazzie Swingset last week. On the trip out we did some light removal but like last week we decided if we'd do anything, we'd do it on the return leg.
The small concrete tank at O'Neil Spring was full and the creek along the trail had a reasonable amount of flow but it posed no problem for the half-dozen crossings each way. Along the creek we picked a slick rock area next to a trickling falls to be our lunch spot on the return trip and kept going. When we reached the open area the cowpaths spread out like a river delta so we just wandered aimlessly until stopping for a few minutes in a grassy area under a large tree. Tracey managed to find the one rock to sit on amongst the numerous cow-patties.
With neither of us too interested in climbing up by the peak itself we just started the return trip, only this time I did some very judicious trimming with my titanium shears while Tracey cleared the old and new trimmings off the trail. Our lunch break was awesome... nice warm slick rock with a slight curve which made for a perfect spot for a nap. The warm part was important as there was a brisk cool breeze along the creek and more clouds than sun. The trickle of the water mere feet away was quite relaxing.
On the return leg we heard intermittent shooting, which I figured was at the gravel pit just past where we had parked along FR 1705. With previous plans to add a small loop around the gravel pit at the end of our hike, we were prepared to skip that part. But when we reached the hill above the pit the shooters were farther out FR 1705, shooting in the direction if they aimed high at all the rounds would pass over AZ 87... not too bright. We didn't need to approach any closer to figure it was likely a .50 caliber rifle.. the sound pretty much gave it away and based on the $6-7 per round cost that likely played a part on how few rounds they fired.
Once we hit the road back to the car each shot came with two separate sounds... now I'm not a physicist so it's just a guess, but I figured the first was the sound of the round being fired and the second was the report of when the bullet passed the speed of sound away from us, in effect the sonic-boom. If anyone has any other explanation please feel free to share it.
Typical crazy drivers on the drive home... four seemed to have a lot trouble staying in their lane, one of which went from the left shoulder to the right within a 1/4 mile. Again, it appeared they were texting rather than drunk, just more evidence neither phone nor texting should be allowed while moving more than 5 mph except if on a 911 call. The technology exists to make it happen... and it should.
Number of on-trail human encounters today = ZERO |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
