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| Hiking | 13.59 Miles |
3,425 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.59 Miles | 6 Hrs 19 Mns | | 2.27 mph |
| 3,425 ft AEG | 20 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | I had an evening event so this one made sense for a solid day that doesn't take too long and is close enough to get there and back without too much driving time. Caught a glimpse of an eagle as we drove over the Verde, which is always enjoyable.
A surprising number of vehicles at the trailhead to start, but we determined that they were all hunters, and as is not atypical, the parking lot is just about as far as they ever got.
Entirely out of the wilderness and easily accessed by roads at both ends, Gold Ridge has taken on some new life as a downhill mountain biking trail. Not that we encountered any, but the increased impact of fat tires in the dirt had the tread nicely worn and free from any of the usual Mazzy overgrowth. It is of course, as steep as always!
I think there's a new sign at South Fork. Downhill in the drainage was a bit overgrown as expected, but featured a lot more autumn color than I thought there would be. The creek was running nicely and we made good time down the hill.
I sort of forgot how long the bottom traverse across the grasslands are. The sun was a little warm and down here the summer rains have sprouted grasses that have almost completely engulfed the trail. There's tread under there but it took careful attention to stay on route.
It was grasshopper mating day and there were hoppers jumping at our feet for pretty much all 13 miles. Speaking of grasshoppers, when we arrived at the camp that bears his name, we had to put out the fire that whoever had slept there last night had left so hot it literally burst into flames while we were snacking nearby. This kind of feces doesn't even surprise me anymore.
Trailhead almost empty when we ended, and home so early there was time for a bonus nap!  |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Moderate
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| I'm not sure what my spirit animal is, but I'm confident it has rabies. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
