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| Hummingbird Gulch (Fletcher Peak, Top-R) |
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| (R-L) High Point Corner, Mummy's Toe, Fletcher Saddle, and Rocky Outcropping from Rim of Gulch |
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| Hummingbird Gulch from Old Overlook |
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| Starting up Gypsy Trail |
The Tenacious Trio set out from the Robbers Roost Trailhead located on Deer Creek Road (SR 158) for a loop hike that ended in a descent of the well revered and/or well respected Hummingbird Gulch. Previous loop hikes done by this group distanced between 6.5 and 7 miles with almost 2200' of elevation gain. However, this shorter loop was only 5.25 miles in distance and 1700' in elevation gain. But, don't be fooled! It is a great workout! Our hike began by crossing the highway and climbing up the embankment on the other side as if we were going up to Robbers Roost, the hideout of highway robbers in the wild wild west. At the top of the road embankment, we turned to the right to follow remnants of the Old Deer Creek Road.
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| Crossing a Wash on Pixie Trail |
This area is used widely by mountain bikers but, on a Monday, it was very quiet. The old road curves around to the right passing an obvious bike trail entrance from the left. Soon you are rising as you parallel the curve of the new Deer Creek Road.
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| Hummingbird Gulch, Deer Creek Road (SR 158), and Telephone Canyon from Road Section |
To make the hike a little shorter, we turned to the left on the Pixie bike trail which crossed our trail a little further up. This is a very pleasant trail that gently brings hikers up to the North Loop Trailhead area via switchbacks.
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| North Loop Trail |
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| Starting out Teepee Trail |
Arriving at the top of the hill, we were met with the Gypsy/Minx Trail coming in from the right and Deer Creek Road ahead of us. This is the "road" section. It is necessary to drop to the pavement, turn left, and hike the pavement for approximately a quarter mile up to the North Loop Trailhead. Be careful here! Sometimes cars and motorcycles are passing here at a high rate of speed. ... Why? ... Need for speed, I guess. Anyway, at the North Loop Trailhead, we began our climb up the North Loop for almost a mile. At this point, there is a hidden junction for a trail that leads to the left. We've been having fun with this new route this last year. The trail is there but it is very difficult to find and follow at times.
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| Cowboy Overlook |
We took a short break here at the junction then started through the dip and up the hillside. I am still trying to become familiar with the trail so it is still difficult for me to explain the route.
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| Kay and Rita at Teepee |
Suffice it to say that the beginning of the route climbs, traverses, climbs and traverses. In a route that more or less appears straight on the tracks below, you will eventually come to the Teepee.
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| View up ridge from Teepee |
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| Rocky Outcropping View |
At one time, this teepee looks as if it was a nice tent with a view. It has fencing wire around it and dead pine branches at its base. The wire and branches are both of no use now and all that remains are the small logs that stand in a circle holding each other up. Yes, it appears that youngsters building teepees in the mountains is not a new phenomenon. We took a few photos here. Looking up the large ridge on which the teepee was built, the North Loop High Point Corner can be seen at the top. To the left of that, Mummy's Toe rises above the horizon. To the left of that, Fletcher Saddle drops to a low point on the horizon. And, just below that, you can see a rocky outcropping that juts out into the Hummingbird Gulch upper canyon. The outcropping indicates the location of the canyon's upper (or first) narrows. We climbed up the ridge a little to find the trail and start hiking toward the outcropping.
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| Tenacious Trio on Rocky Outcropping |
The trail led us up to the top of the next ridge and across the top of the outcropping and we dropped down to it. Our goal was to find an easy way down into the canyon upper wash.
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| First Narrows in Hummingbird Gulch |
On the outcropping, we took our group photo and got a nice view out toward the gulch and La Madre Peak. The view isn't as open as we would have liked but the excursion did provide a good way to traverse down into the wash.
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| Following Trail and Cairns down a Small Scramble |
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| Interesting Stuff |
We arrived at the wash just before the first narrows. (Good! I didn't want to miss any of the good stuff!) From there, we began our descent along the trail that is cairned, for the most part. The trail constantly changes because of the yearly maze of newly fallen trees. Just before the second narrows came along, we saw a trail up to the left. Wanting to visit the Old Overlook after not being there for several years, we took the trail. This brought us to a small rock outcropping that was not what we were looking for and we stopped for our break. On a small exploratory, I noticed the Old Overlook was right below us. So, we headed down to it and enjoyed the wonderful gulch view below. I just wish that one tree would fall already! See third photo.
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| Dropping from False Overlook to Old Overlook |
It was a bit easier to drop back into the wash from the Old Overlook. We arrived right at the spring area. There was about as much water as usual, maybe a little less. But, the green green grass grew all around!
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| Old Overlook |
Next, the trail becomes somewhat complicated. Rest assured, the hiker still wants to just go down but, after the water and grass area, the trail leads up to the left to go up and around a ten foot pourover that is obstructed by a lot of brush and trees.
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| Gulch Spring in Second Narrows |
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| Up and Around at Pourover |
In the photo to the left, you see the pourover from the top, part of the up and around, a view from the bottom of the pourover, and lastly, the pourover itself. Next, go down through that brush into a hole ... yes ... that hole! So begins a winding and constantly mind boggling trail descent through the gulch. This was probably my sixth time through the gulch and landmarks are finally becoming pretty familiar. Still slow going due to the gravelly steepness, we carefully made our way down. Concentration was the name of the game. We talked very little! Finally, we entered the pine forest at the bottom and came out on part of the Old Deer Creek Road. Turning left, we followed the road all the way back to the Robbers Roost Trail, with the exception of a detour up and around to the left to avoid the steep road embankment. What a day! Great new route! Whew!
Stats: 5.25 miles; 1700' gain; 4.5 hours
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| Hummingbird Gulch Trail |
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| Arriving at the Pine Forest |
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| Using the Old Deer Creek Road to return to Robbers Roost Trailhead |
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