sprockets

Finally.  A visit to the trail that would connect Spur Cross to 7 Springs.  It is a slog.  Made it to a nice little spring at Mattys Fork that feeds into Cave Creek proper.  It looks like a little trail work is needed to brush away the fist-to-baby -head sized rocks strewn on the trail in most places just North of a big climb out of Cave Creek.

An early 5:30 start at Spur Cross put us at our turn around spot on Trail #4  about 2 1/2 hours later.  A proper ride.  Heat was not even a problem until I got out of the car at my house.

sometimes the singletrack was really nice

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Yuri does what he can to survive.

it was a bit primitive on Trail #4

More here at Upside Out.

Backpacking.

Karen and I dusted off our backpacks, tested the stove, and set up a pack for Tegan to see what he would do with 3 days in the woods without any cares about toys, clothes, boredom, cats or cars.
Turns out he has no cares about those things. Given the beauty of the area we packed into, the familiarity of the tent routine and the abundance of bugs, snakes and water, it really was not a big deal. In fact, we think a light turned on inside his big head, as he expressed desire to stay out longer and made a point of asking when he can pack in again. yaaay.

I thought I would do a Cabin Loop up on the Rim.  I bagged 3 of the 5 cabins in a 33 mile suffer fest that was quite the ride.  A great overnighter.

somehow, on the 2007 AZT ride from Flagstaff to Phoenix, we missed this section of the AZT, instead bypassing it for dirt road.  I think that was a mistake, either that, or it was not finished yet.

this drops down to East Clear Creek on the West side of the Blue Ridge Res.  Very rocky and steep down to the creek.  Then UP.

not much water over here.  This was to change down the trail(s) a bit.

seems the pipe has a connection problem. This feeds the Morenci Mine.

mmmmm..turkey jerky.

this trail just goes like this for a while. sometimes I forgot I was in Arizona.

some really nice trail construction.

lots of fallen trees. everywhere.

cabin loop signage

cabin #1 - General Springs. This is the end of the AZT (also the Fred Haught Trail) for me on this day, it continues on down the rim, but I end up taking FR300 in lieu of the incredibly rocky and hard to follow General Crook Trail.

hit the road in very windy wind

the view

down the Houston Brothers Trail. sublime. lots of roots, lots of fun.

strawberries everywhere

an afternoon of reading before settling in for a night of wind and elk.

the ever reliable penny stove.

apt

I need a new prescription

I drink a lot of water after learning how to control gout

the option point

I had read a bit about the Barbershop Trail, and here was my turn off if I wanted to give it a shot.  I chose to stay on the Houston Brothers Trail.  I am really glad I did.

my morning track

this area is really lush. My family is planning on backpacking in here this upcomming weekend. The trail goes along a drainage to the next cabin on the list.

Aspen Springs Cabin

The trail bombs right to the next structure on the list.  My 2007 visit was not quite as warm as it was on this moring.  I parked my bike and hung my pack in the same spot though.  From here, I had another choice of where to go.  I really wanted to check out the Blue Ridge Reservoir.  So I did.

Pinchot Cabin

I saw on my Coconino Forest Map that a set of trails numbered “18″ sat between me and various parts of the reservoir.  So I found the dirt road to get me there and headed down in.

I signed in first

is that sign current?

oh well.  down I go.

pretty steep downs

18C shows connecting to 18B.

they do connect if you happen to have a canoe

These people were good enough to ferry me across, saving me from climbing out several miles.

I want a canoe really bad now. The reservoir is serene and quite nice.

So getting the float got me back on track and back to the car at Rock Crossing campground area.  I blame Kerouac for the long weekend in the woods.  I would not have it any other way.