Hummingbird Gulch / Fletcher Peak / Teepee / Brian's Gully Loop - 9/15/22

Hummingbird Gulch

The Teepee

Brian's Gully

Climbing up the Gulch

Tropical Storm Kay and the monsoons have poured rain on the Spring Mountains this summer. The rain, at least temporarily, has "left the building." It was time to return to the longer substantial hikes without the threat of lightning and downpours. One of those hikes was on our bucket list. An ascent in Hummingbird Gulch and all the way up to Fletcher Peak. Then, well, let's get creative and descend via the Teepee route and Brian's Gully. This hike was presented to us by Brian last year in a counter-clockwise direction. Wanting to experience the Hummingbird ascent, we reversed the direction of the overall hike. Luckily, we were all in the mood for an adventure. We had not done part of this hike in the "backward" direction before.

Hummingbird Gulch

Hiking up the High Route

Climbing past the Dry Fall

Halfway Up the Gulch Ravine

We parked at Robbers' Roost Trailhead and started out around 7:15am. We crossed the road and climbed up the Robbers' Roost Trail shortly until there was a trail turning off to the left. This trail takes hikers between here and the bottom of Hummingbird Gulch so that a loop can be hiked without walking along the road. At the Gulch Trail, we were five strong. Up we went, following the trail before us. It weaves around mostly on the right side of the deep high-walled ravine. We climbed and climbed. It was a lot of scree and some brush. Nearing the top third below the dry fall, we funneled onto the upper trail. Honestly, it was a choice to either climb steeply here or climb steeply next to the dry fall. Either way, you end up at the bottom of the up and around.

Spring Area

Just above the Narrows

Hummingbird Wash

Junction with Fletcher Peak Trail

Up past the dry fall, we saw that the spring was flowing well inside the Narrows. The climb continued up and up and up inside the upper wash. We took a couple of breathers but we got the job done reaching the Fletcher Saddle for a sit down. The climb to Fletcher Peak from there seemed almost easy compared to the climb up Hummingbird! We sat on the peak for a 15 minute break and group photo. Yep! All downhill from here .... We descended Fletcher Peak and returned to the saddle. Here, we took a right turn onto the Teepee Trail. The trail is very vague but if you look hard enough, you can see it heading diagonally down to the left traversing the hillside. Keeping ours eyes wide open, we followed the quiet trail.

Fletcher Peak Trail

South Loop Ridge from Fletcher Peak

Four plus One on Fletcher Peak

Starting Descent

The trail splits at one point. You can either follow a trail that runs parallel to the Hummingbird Gulch abyss or you can hike straight to the neighboring ridge on the left and follow the ridge down. You should run right into the Teepee on the cliff to the right. We took our photos and paid respects to the passed on hikers whose ashes were spread in this area. Here, the route turns down to the left and follows the cliff to an overlook of the Robbers' Roost area. The trail continues on a diagonal to the left as you make your way around and down across a couple of small ravines. Up on a saddle, there is a white blaze on a tree and beautiful twisty tree. On the way, we saw a healthy mule deer running up the ridge. (We saw the remains of two unlucky deer on other parts of this hike. There must be a mountain lion somewhere around here.)

Starting Trail down from Fletcher Saddle

Vague Trail between Ridge and Wash

Robbers Roost Overlook

Overlooking the Overlook

A continuation of the trail takes hikers down to junction with the North Loop Trail below the meadow. Exactly right here, we junctioned with the top of Brian's Gully. This narrow steep and rocky gully runs parallel down the north side of the Robbers' Roost cliffs. (Did I say steep?) We started down the wash that had been rutted by recent rains. The rocks were in disarray and loose. Not far down the wash, we saw a crumpled tent. We made sure it was empty but made the smart decision to not try to carry it out with us in this crazy gully. Another part of the tent was found a little later. If anyone wants the coordinates to the tent, email me! We all had started down the middle of the steep rocky wash but soon spread out on either side in the dirt and debris.

Twisty Tree

Mike starting down Brian's Gully

Kay trying to stay in Gully Proper

Bob also trying to stay in Gully

Bob and I tried to stay in the wash but there were several large drops that were difficult with which to deal! Mike took a route down the left side and Charlie and Bruce kept on the right side. Anyway you descended, it was a fun adventure! It seemed like it took forever to finally reach a cliff band near the bottom where a trail took off to the right. The trail was very messy but we stayed as close to it as we could with Mike in the lead. At that point, we just hoped we didn't get cliffed out by the Robbers' Roost walls. No prob. We hiked right down to the bottom of the roost trail below the walls. What a trip! This was a great group for today's hike. Everyone really enjoyed the whole experience even though it took 6 hours! Yes, with younger knees and lungs, the hike would not have been more than 5 hours but, alas, that's life!

Stats: 5.8 miles; 2600' gain; 6 hours; no rain.

Lots of Rocks

Gotta Rest!

Reaching the Robbers Roost Trail

Patched together.