GET – Page 20 – Sagebrush Trails

First Water

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.

Continue reading “First Water”

Scissors

Saturday, May 28, 2016
Grand Enchantment Trail section hike Polvadera NM to Tijeras NM, starting here
Day 7
Start waypoint 37019 Segment 36 mile 33.0 on Turkey Trot Trails south of Tijeras
Stop waypoint 37170 Segment 37 mile 12.8 Sandia Forest Service Ranger Station and transport back to civilization
Miles walked 12.8

The trail goes right along Department of Energy land set-aside with dire warnings.

Soon the forest looks much better than yesterday, more balanced somehow, with less discard limbs from recent thinning and better plant diversity.

I had made arrangements yesterday with family to meet at the Ranger Station today at 11AM, but am embarrassed to see that I mis-read the map and have a lot more hiking to do this morning than expected.

The road and network of trails south of Tijeras (scissors in Spanish) is heavily used by mountain bikers, road cyclists, rock climbers, and day hikers this fine weekend morning.

I skip the winding Tunnel Canyon Trail and stay on NM 337 for a fast road-walk to make up for my mistake…

and arrive nearly on time, within 10 minutes or so.

Now to get ready for CDT Montana!

[no audiobook on this short day]

Road Walk

Friday, May 27, 2016
Grand Enchantment Trail section hike Polvadera NM to Tijeras NM, starting here
Day 6
Start waypoint mile 3.8 of Segment 36, near Tajique Campground
Stop waypoint 37019 Segment 36 33.0 on Turkey Trot Trails south of Tijeras
Miles walked 33.0 – 3.8 = 29.2

My goal for the day is to complete a 27 mile read walk through private lands before getting to public lands where I can camp.
A fire had come through the area along the road down to Tajique, and this is what the recovery looked like.

Ray’s One Stop in Tajique was a welcome sight after several days on the trail, with junk food my body craved.

Some of my family had actually gone to Ray’s in years past, as it was the closest store to their remote summer camp.

My phone could not find a signal in Tajique. Note to myself for my future through-hike.

My stroll through Tajique land grant had a good bit of dirt road, easier on the feet than pavement. I was starting to get Plantar fasciitis in my left foot by mid-morning, which I had not ever had before. No choice but to keep on walking, and symptoms did not get worse during the day.
The paved road had a narrow shoulder, and often a narrow strip of gravel that I tried to walk on to lessen wear on my feet.
This attractive niche in Chilili land grant was built from a metal stock tank.

Tajique land grant had several real estate “for sale” signs, but Chilili land grant was a different matter.

Another sign in Chilili asked for no photography. No idea if that was a consensus opinion or just the opinion of one lone sign writer, but I stopped taking photos and you do not get to see the village and have to go there yourself.
My map warned of only two stores with water on this stretch of road, but I was delighted to find another general store past Chilili at Ten Points.

Which meant another break for snacks.
I got back on public lands with time to spare, among a network of hiking/biking paths with recent thinning and lots of discarded limbs left on the ground.

I was able to get a cell signal and text family a request for pickup tomorrow morning.

[completed audiobook The Emperor’s Edge, by Lindsay Buroker]