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Moonshine Spring |
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Wall around campsite next to Spring |
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Old Cottonwood trees fed by Spring |
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View on the way to Wooden Fence Spring |
Okay. So, I did it right this time! Something I read last time led me astray and I ended up at Inscription Rock instead of Moonshine Spring. This time I really found it and it was amazing! Moonshine Spring is a prolific spring that streams out of a small canyon at the base of the north side of Windy Peak. If you view Windy Peak's north side, the long vertical crack in its wall (a wall that compares to Black Velvet's main wall) leads directly down to the spring's canyon. At this time of year, the cottonwoods in the canyon, fed by the spring water, are adorned with yellow leaves; quite the colorful sight.
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Wooden fence and old skiff at Lone Grapevine Spring |
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View back at Lone Grapevine Spring from burro Trail |
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Following burro trail over next trailing Ridge |
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Burro trail heading down into Moonshine Spring Area |
We followed the burro trail up and over the next small ridge as Global Peak and a smaller buttress in front of it came into view. At this point, we were having faith in the burro trail and a vague knowledge of where the spring was located on the GPS. The burros know! We kept looking up toward the base of the rock walls of Windy Peak. But, the burros know. So, we continued up a steep hill to the next ridge. (In retrospect, we should have climbed to the top of this ridge a little lower down since the trail up where we were was very steep and slippery.) On top of this ridge, we regained the burro trail and followed it down and across the next rock-filled arroyo. Up the next ridge and, more gently, down the other side, the burro trail was becoming much clearer. The trail circled around and down to the middle of the small canyon to a junction point. Hmm. Well, the grove of trees and darkness beyond the foliage wall gave us a good idea that, perhaps, we were there! A small rocky path required us to bend forward under the trees and carefully climb over a couple of fallen trees. There it was!!!
Stats: 6 miles; 900' gain; 4.25 hours
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Landmarks around Moonshine Spring |
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Temporary cairn at Road / Trail crossing on Return |
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Circling around hill behind Late Night Trailhead |