Scouting Hikes Spring 2020 Prehiked Hieroglyphics Trail, Quartz Peak, Butterfield Trail, Table Top (West of Casa Grande), Brown Mountain, Senoran Desert Museum

Jerry, John and Mike have been scouting some hikes this spring. 

Hieroglyphics 

Quartz Peak

Butterfield Trail

Table Top - West of Casa Grande 

Brown Mountain

Senoran Desert Museum 

March 9, 2020 - Prehike to Sunset Vista - Picacho Peak

Jerry, John R. and Nancy prehiked the Picacho Peak Sunset Vista trail in order to see how far we could go with the long and medium hikers in one hour and fifteen minutes.
We came to a large rock at 1 hour and 10 minutes. Jerry was leading and he did not stop all the way up. If the Long Hikers went up this trail they would likely be able to make it to the cables and back in the allotted time. We would have to watch the time. 

The medium hikers may make it to the rock, but we will turn back sooner if it after the hour and 15 minutes.
Mileage to the Cables - John and Jerry - 5.15 miles
Nancy - 5 miles - past a large rock by about 10 minutes. 

March 3, 2020 Prehike American Flag Trail - Arizona Trail - Near Oracle

Jerry and John prehiked this trail. Long hike (loop) is 8.6. Medium Hike is out and back is 7 miles.  The mine has been filled in. John put the loop on All Trails. Jerry put the out and back on All Trails. John and Jerry went 8.4 miles. 

Information Prior to Hike
This hike is a segment of the Arizona Trail which starts at the American Flag Trailhead just off the American Flag Ranch Road.
There is a High Jinks mine that is just off the trail that may be explored.
Long Hike - to the Ridge 7.4? May explore the High Jinks mine as well? The High Jinks mine is about 2.5 miles into the hike. All Trails has a hike that goes to the Oracle Ridge Trail. 9.8 miles Out and back.
American Flag Trail - Arizona Trail Segment

Medium Hike - High Jinks Mine - Ridge?

Directions: Take I-10 east to exit 219 (Picacho Peak) and turn left under the freeway. Go to the frontage road at the stop sign before the train tracks and then turn right. Follow the frontage road for about four miles to Park Link Drive and turn left. Follow this road 18 miles to Highway 79 and turn right. Go 10.3 miles to Highway 77 and turn left. Go about 10 miles and turn right onto American Avenue. Proceed through the town of Oracle until you come to Mount Lemmon Road and turn right. (There is no advance warning for the turnoff but there is a green sign right at the turnoff.) Follow the road for about four miles to American Flag Ranch road, and turn right at the street sign for American Flag Ranch Road. There is a wooden archway with a sign and a parking lot on each side of the road. Park on the right side of the road. No facilities at the trailhead.

February 25, 2020 - Prehike to Bear Canyon - Sabino Canyon National Park

Jerry, John and Nancy prehiked the Bear Canyon Trail. We started the hike by riding on the 9:45 Bear Canyon Trail Shuttle to Stop #3.  We picked up Bear Canyon trail here and hiked a trail that follows the road for about a mile. From there it starts to follow the banks of the creek bed. We crossed the creek 7 times before heading up the switchbacks to the viewpoint of Seven Falls. Then we hiked into the Falls and had lunch. This was 12:00. With a later start at the shuttle, planned for Friday Hike and the amount of water that is in the creek, it will likely be at least 12:30 by the time the hikers will get to the falls for lunch.
We walked back to the Visitor Center instead of catching the Shuttle. We walked through the water at the bridge. We were back by 3:10. The total time of the hike and lunch was 5 hours and 25 minutes. Some of this time was searching for a place to cross the creek.

Milage 6.6 Miles

Brittlebush flowers are starting to bloom

Mexican Poppy 

Feather Duster

We go down a steep bank to the Creek and back up a steep bank on the same side