| when | March 18, 2023 Saturday | ||||||
| where | Mazatzal Mountains | ||||||
| the hike |
Join me on a hike that is a hidden jewel in the Mazatzal Wilderness that begins
at the Deer Creek
Trailhead. We will start a gradual ascent parallel to Deer Creek where depending
on recent
precipitation snowcapped peaks of Mount Peeley (7,030 ft) and Mazatzal Peak (7,903 ft.)
can be
seen. The Mazatzal Mountains (MAH-zaht-ZAL, locally Ma-tuh-ZEL) are a mountain range
in south
central Arizona-- the origin of its name remaining quite obscure but possibility from
the Nahuatl language meaning "place of the deer". Regardless remnants of
deer scat can be found
as we begin a steep uphill climb that will also require several boulder hoping
crossings across South Fork of Deer Creek for which the trail is named. At some of the
crossings the creek may be flowing. Along the trail you will view grassland,
small Sonoran desert
shrubs including pinion and juniper trees, prickly pear, and an occasional southern
Sycamore fallen
across the trail due to damaged roots caused by the 2004 Willow Fire. This and
subsequent fires
greatly changed the landscape, killing most of the large conifers at higher elevations,
stimulated new
vegetative undergrowth, but also caused erosion that impacted the Gold Ridge,
South Fork and Deer
Creek trails. In addition erosion created difficulties hiking in some sections of
these trails. Hiking
sticks are highly recommended. At about the 4.5 mile mark we will turn around and head
back to the car. At about this point is where cats claw has taken over the trail.
The Mazatzal Wilderness area is one of largest and oldest national forest wilderness
in
Arizona—classified Primitive Area in 1938 and named wilderness in 1964 covering apx.
250,000 acres.
(Information for this description is borrowed from Wikipedia and Wildernessneed.org / Mazatzal Wilderness.) Recommended: Hiking sticks Dry shoes and socks for after the hike camera 3 liters of water snack or lunch |
||||||
| distance | 9 miles | ||||||
| time | 5-8 hours | ||||||
| EC | +-1000' elevation change | ||||||
| elevations | 3300' (trailhead) to 4100' | ||||||
| type | round trip | ||||||
| starting at |
|
||||||
| on trail | 100% — Deer Creek #45, South Fork #46 | ||||||
| rating | "B" Rate yourself as a hiker. | ||||||
| cost | Sharing gas expenses with the driver. The club also allows voluntary contributions of $5 per non-member. |
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| dogs allowed | no | ||||||
| weather | Payson | ||||||
| leader | You must email the leader to confirm. Limit 15 hikers. Please provide your cell phone number when you sign up in case we need to contact you on the day of the hike. | ||||||
| meet in Fountain Hills |
8:00 AM in the parking lot of the Target Center on the south side of Shea Blvd., about a mile west of Highway 87 (Beeline). For those leaving their cars behind, please park up against the north curb away from Starbuck’s. | ||||||
| drive |
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| Schedule of Events | Arizona Trailblazers Home Page |
| updated March 1, 2023 | © Copyright 2023, Arizona Trailblazers. All rights reserved. |