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| Hiking | 17.55 Miles |
3,875 AEG |
| | Hiking | 17.55 Miles | | | |
| 3,875 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | Back in the Mazzies for the second week in a row, wanting to do something 'bigger', and this loop fit the bill perfectly. The road to the Mineral Creek TH is sedan-friendly with just a few smaller ruts to be careful with. Not surprisingly, no one else was at the TH when we started just after 7:30.
North Peak Trail #24
Easy grade for the first 3/4 of a mile. Once the trail goes left, the grade increases as it works its way up to a ridge. Did not check out Mineral Spring, however, there was water running across the trail in the area of the spring. Took a quick break up on the first saddle and continued. The second mile was the steepest. With a steep grade and tons of loose rock, it was a slow crawl up this section, but the views of North Peak are fantastic. From here, the grade moderates as it moves through a forest of Manzanita, which looked like it had some recent maintenance; it was nice and wide open. The last mile and a half is a bit of ups and downs before finally reaching the Park. We thought about heading up to the Summit of North Peak, but the wind started picking up, so we saved it for later date. The trail is in great shape from the start to the Park, no issues with route finding or brushiness.
Mazatzal Divide - AZT #23
We spent some time having lunch and taking in the scenery at the Park before heading east on the Divide trail to possibly putting in some miles on the Willow Springs Trail. Our minds quickly changed once we got to the 'junction'. The only reminder that a trail used to be here is a cairn where it should have started, and it is now the home to a forest of Manzanita. Mother Nature has reclaimed the Willow Springs Trail here. We turned around and started heading west on the Divide, which loses elevation a couple of times, only to climb up again; once right after the Park and the second heading up Knob Mountain. The AZT section of the divide trail is in excellent shape.
Mazatzal Divide Trail #23
By the time we reached the Red Hills junction, the wind was howling. I rarely get cold hiking, but the strong wind hitting the sweat on my back put me there. Past the Red Hills junction, the Divide Trail got brushy, really brushy in some spots for the first couple of miles down. It will need some work in the near future before it gets to be a bushwhack. We moved pretty quickly through the top section, trying to get out of the way of the wind, which we finally did about halfway down. The hike down to City Creek dragged on after a while, feeling like it would never end.
Pole Hollow Canyon
A brief road walk started us down this trail, which was easy to follow for the first 2 miles, as the cows have kept up with the maintenance. The last mile back to Mineral Creek was a fight as the 'trail' disappeared, so it was either fighting through tons of Juniper or walking the creek. When we were in the creek, it was full of downed trees that we had to go over and under time and time again. I was pretty exhausted at this point, so every extra bit of energy that had to be spent doing this was irritating. Finally, the last quarter mile, the trail returned, and it was an easy walk from there.
I'm really enjoying the Mazzies, but dam do they make you work for it.  Thanks S, for joining me again on another fun filled adventure.  |
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Wildflowers Observation Light
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Pole Hollow Spring |
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| | | A couple of small pools in the creek. | | _____________________
Hiking is just walking where it’s okay to pee.  |
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