Deer Creek / Meadows Loop - 8/6/17

Old Bristlecone at North Loop Meadow

Mummy's Nose from Meadow

Angel Peak through Bristlecone

Are you guys really coming down here?

 The forecast took all chance of rain out. Then, we had a dark overcast sky throughout the hike. Ten hikers loved it! It was cool and shaded throughout the 5 miles that we started at the Deer Creek Picnic Area parking lot on Deer Creek Road in the Spring Mountains NRA. ... And, speaking of deer, ... the first thing we saw as we pondered the drop down the hillside was a foraging mule deer who was quite happy to keep eating until she was positive we were coming down to where she was. She disappeared into the brush as we found the brushy small path at the end of the gully near the embankment of the highway above. We circled around to get to the Old Deer Creek Road remnant that runs along a cliff wall.

The "Messy" Start to connect with Old Deer Creek Road

 As Deer Creek Canyon ran deep on our left, we climbed up the old road circling around the Mahogany Grove Group Picnic Area.

CCC Information Signs and Old Camp Oven

 BTW, does anyone know about the old refrigerator that has been dumped on the backside of this area? If a really cool airplane crash has to be taken out, so should this garbage.

Vickie's Imaginary String

Passing the Cougar Ridge Trailhead Turnout

 The trail (road) veers to the left at the refrigerator and we hiked down a gentle hill. This part of the hike has resting benches on the sides. With one more left turn, we came to a concrete path terminal where information signs are placed about the CCC and their contribution to the trail systems. There are also a couple of their rusted camp ovens placed here and there. From here, we climbed up the next hill to the left and crossed over the area behind the Cougar Ridge Trailhead parking turnout. We dropped back down on the other side.

Dropping to Next Wash

 A slight path helped us down to the wash where the Old Deer Creek Road used to be. This part of the road isn't well preserved.

Old Deer Creek Road

 As we continued down the wash, the "road" became a little more obvious. Then the road turned up the hill to the right.

Taking "Short Cut" to North Loop Trail

North Loop Trail

 At the top of the next small hill, there is a road turn to the right. The Old Deer Creek Road continues straight but our right turn climbed up to the Deer Creek Highway. We crossed the pavement and continued on a trail that clearly winded up to the North Loop Trail. We call this section the shortcut to the North Loop. It comes in handy on occasion. At the junction with the official trail, the coordinator told the participants to climb up to the meadow at their own speed and the group immediately separated into a fast group, middle group and the sweepers.

Enjoying the Morning

 Whichever group you were in, the climb was extremely pleasant. The temperature was very cool and the air was freshly washed from the downpours of last week.

Break at the Meadow

 When all ten hikers had arrived at the meadow, we had a nice relaxing break. There were not a lot of other hikers around yet.

Nature's Sculptures

Wild Horse Canyon Crossover

 We were keeping watch on the darkish cloud over our heads but it did not concern us to the point that we would not take our time on this beautiful morning. After a break of normal length, we headed up to the far end of the meadow where the fantastic old bristlecone stands (first photo) and turned to our right onto the Wild Horse Canyon connector trail. The small trail took us on a traverse then steeply down on small switchbacks into the top of Wild Horse Canyon. Here, we chose the trail that goes straight called Cactus Jack Trail.

Cactus Jack Trail

 The Cactus Jack Trail takes hikers from the top of Wild Horse Canyon to the top of Wild Horse Ridge found next door.

Starting Wild Horse Ridge

 When the trail met the ridge, we climbed up to balance the wide rock ridge for the duration of our descent.

Balancing Wild Horse Ridge

Our Trailhead and the Mahogany Grove Group Site

The cloudy views were beautiful and, at the end of the ridge, we dropped off and turned to the left. A vague trail took us along the Cougar Ridge Trail Road then we hiked down to the road and turned left. A small distance from here, we came to the gated paved trail that turns to the right and leads down through the Deer Creek Picnic Area. It is fascinating to see the many creations by little engineers along the creek bed. (i.e. shelters, bridges and more shelters) The water was running strong but not as strong as when the snow was melting on the peaks above. When we got to the highway, we crossed it back to our cars. Great morning! Nice little interval training hike.

5 miles; 1350 feet elevation gain; 2.75 hours

Coming down off the Ridge

Cougar Ridge Trail

Deer Creek Picnic Area

Escarpment / Acastus Trail / Eagle's Nest Loop - 8/5/17

Charleston Peak from Kyle Escarpment

Cathedral Rock from Erbar Road

Loop Junction at Eagle's Nest

Starting out at the Spring Mountains Gateway Visitor Center

 The expected rain storms finally did their thing yesterday and both Kyle and Lee Canyons were flooded in the Spring Mountains NRA. Lee Canyon Road was closed today while workers cleaned up the mess. A ranger at the visitor center told us that some of the side (wash) bridges had been ... well ... washed out. Kyle Canyon also had a gully washer and there was mud in many of the dips of the trails. But the road seemed to be in good shape so five hikers researched the weather forecasts carefully then made their way up into the mountains.

Flooded Out Wash Crossing

 We parked in the Spring Mountains Gateway Visitor Center lot and crossed through to drop into the old golf course area. Right away, we had to cross through a mess of rocks and mud since the red path goes through the Kyle Canyon Wash.

Climbing up to the Escarpment Rim

 On the other side, we found our way over to the old paved golf cart path on the left side of the facing hill and began a very steep climb up to the sign that talks about an airplane crash that happened back in the '50s.

Morning View down Kyle Canyon

Escarpment Trail

 Retracing our steps about 50 feet, we turned onto the signed Escarpment Trail. The trail winds in and out and around the lower end of the rock cliffs above us. Eventually, we made a sharp turn to the right. At this point, we were on top of the escarpment and making our way around to the canyon side where the rock cliffs were high and we had a great view up canyon to Charleston Peak. By now, all residual rain clouds had dissipated and the air was cool and fresh. A beautiful morning in the mountains! Not wanting to rush, we hiked above the escarpment taking in the views and various plants on the sides of the trail.

Pinion Pine, Gnarly Tree, Golf Course Remnant, Manzanita Berries

 Below us, we saw the Mt. Charleston Hotel and the Visitor Center. A motorcycle club was enjoying the morning with a ride over Deer Creek Road. (Later, they had to come back since Lee Canyon Road was closed!)

Grand View with Mt. Charleston Hotel

 At the other end of the escarpment, we made a gradual descent until we hit the old golf cart path. Then the descent got decidedly steeper and down, we went!

Hiking Escarpment Trail

Escarpment from Below

Down, down, down until we were able to make a left turn. This turn brought us to the red path again. Another left turn and we junctioned with the Acastus Trail, named for the Acastus Checkerspot Butterfly found only in this locale. We passed a few information signs that the trail is known for then came to a long part of the trail that was covered in mud from yesterday's flooding. Trying to step lightly, we still got mud all over our shoes since there was very little space to walk around it. Finally, the mud ended when we reached the picnic area / campground. We hiked through the always empty picnic area and crossed the Kyle Wash that had gotten deeper from the deluge.

Charleston Peak with Innocent Cloud Hat

 Another bridge crossing brought us to the Fletcher Canyon Trailhead where we took a short pit stop. (Guys! Lock the door, please!)

Down Steep Paved Path

 We crossed Kyle Canyon Road and started up the Fletcher Canyon Trail. Soon, we reached the Eagle's Nest Loop junction.

Starting out Acastus Trail

Fletcher Canyon Trailhead

 The Eagle's Nest Loop is a relatively new loop trail that takes hikers up to the shelf on the right. It circles around where high views of Kyle Canyon are seen then drops back down. Today, we climbed the hill, turned to the right, passed the loop sign seen in the third photo and turned right again then stopped in some shade and took our break. We were already at 5.5 miles into our 7.75 mile hike. At this point, we pondered on the cacophony of cleared brush paths that were made by an obviously deranged bulldozer driver. Even after an inquiry at the visitor center, we can only guess that the brush was cleared for the purpose of fire safety. (We were assured that they were not in any way shape or form crop circles.)

Cleared Brush within Eagle's Nest Loop

 Continuing, we made another turn to the right. This one took us off of the Eagle's Nest Loop and into the cleared brush on an old road called Erbar Road.

Weather Anemometer Apparatus

View into Fletcher Canyon from Shelf

 Erbar Road has been recently revived and climbs up here from Kyle Canyon Road. They used it to bring up two weather anemometer apparatuses which we passed as we circled around the shelf to where the road starts a switchback down. A great view of Cathedral Rock is seen as you descend. At the bottom, we crossed Kyle Canyon Road and decided to use Kyle Wash instead of the muddy Acastus Trail to return. When we tired of dodging rocks, we returned to the trail and made our way back up to the visitor center and cars. It was a fun cool morning exploring new stuff.

8 miles; 1250 feet elevation gain; 3.5 hours

Descending Erbar Road

Hiking Kyle Wash

Recently Flooded out Kyle Wash