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| From Echo Canyon to Calico Hills to La Madre Mountains |
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| Heading down Fossil Ridge Trail |
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| Big Step Up - Passing a really nice Shell Fossil in Echo Canyon |
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| View up Echo Canyon |
Eight AtBF club members gathered at the Cowboy Trails Trailhead at 6am - another early warm morning. Until we hiked up the road to the upper stable, there was no breeze and the warm temps persisted. As we dipped down into Echo Canyon, we felt coolness caress our skin ... but only for a few moments. Hiking up a little further, we climbed out of the cool layer of air and back into the warmth. A few more minutes and we didn't notice it so much as we turned our brains to the task at hand. Echo Canyon is easy to navigate with worn trails and moderate scrambles. We laughed and talked our way up between the walls, passed the Fossil Ridge Trail turn to the right and hiked on up to the top of the canyon where the trail junctions with the Cat 'n' Hat Trail. Here, there is a seating area where many groups take their break. It was in the shade, however, our group was not interested too much in taking a long snack break and, after a short pause, we turned right onto the Cat 'n' Hat Trail to start our descent.
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| Following a Trail up and Around |
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| Hiking to the Top of Echo Canyon |
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| Cat 'n' Hat Trail |
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| Waiting on the Fossil Ridge Trail |
Although the Cat 'n' Hat Trail descends all the way to the Bunny Trail, that in turn, descends all the way to the cars, we turned to the right to connect with the Fossil Ridge Trail. This connecting trail is found about 0.6 miles down from the top of Echo Canyon. We zigzagged down to the Fossil Ridge Trail and proceeded to hike down the beautiful ridge above Echo Canyon. Our pace was swift. It was getting hotter. We followed the trail all the way down the ridge and dropped into the horse corral area near the cars. It was a wonderful hot morning with friends.
Stats: 4.5 miles; 900' gain; 2.25 hours
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| John pauses on the Fossil Ridge Trail |
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| Fossil Ridge and Echo Canyon at Echo Spot |
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| Rick and Rosie descend Fossil Ridge |
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