Sagebrush personal hiking blog
GET 2017 Day 3, March 20, Monday.
Start near Angel Basin, section 1 mile 25.9.
End near Superior, section 2 mile 16.2
Miles walked: 20.6
In Roger’s Canyon, cliff dwellings guard the entrance.
The canyon is also notable for the change of plant life. Gone are all succulents, replaced by actual trees. The high walls and narrow canyon trap air cooled by rushing water, making for a pleasant morning walk that corkscrews through the passage.
GET 2017 Day 2, March 19, Sunday.
Start near Upper Black Top Mesa Pass, section 1 mile 5.
End near Angel Basin, section 1 mile 25.9.
Miles walked: 20.9
The route continues on Dutchmen Trail, with easy grades, often near creeks.
Finally leaving Dutchmen, the route goes on Red Tanks Trail, Hoolie Bacon Trail, JF Trail, and Rogers Canyon Trail, often more difficult grades, narrow, sometimes hard to find, frequently climbing out of box canyons.
GET 2017 Day 1, March 18, Saturday.
Start First Water Trailhead, section 1 mile 0.
End near Upper Black Top Mesa Pass, section 1 mile 5.
Miles walked: 5
The east-bound start of the Grand Enchantment Trail (GET) begins at First Water Trailhead, near Apache Junction on the eastern edge of the Phoenix metro area. The start is only a few miles from the Arizona Renaissance Festival, so it seemed like a good idea (at the time) to spend a day at the Ren-Fair before starting the hike late in the day.
The “Pleasure Feast”, a six-course meal with entertainment and merriment, is a splendid way to build up fuel reserves before a long hike.
