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Moscow Peak Loop Day Hike Bradshaw Mountains April 23, 2016 by Bill Zimmermann |
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 Arizona Trailblazers at Moscow Peak: Rudy, Scott, Monika, Bill, Funyung, Michael |
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At 8:40 six hikers were on the move. We parked the vehicles at Five Corners. The only road that goes up was our choice. A week earlier Bill checked with Yavapai County road department on the condition of the road to Five Corners. “We are not allowed to give out that information,” was the answer he got. With the lack of information, last week Bill choose to “pre-drive” the road and also pre-hike. |
 O.K., everyone, here’s the road to the lookout. |
 Scott pauses to look the whole thing over. |
 Yes, we’ve found Trail 284. |
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It was windy. With one hiker lagging, Bill opted out of the climb to Mt Union Lookout, in hopes of completing the larger loop to the Orotino mine. The ascent of Moscow Peak began when we left the trail at waypoint #4. It was a fairly easy bushwhack as we followed a ridgeline that was free of major vegetation. Actually we encountered some cairns. |
 Moscow Peak, here we come! |
 Scott and Rudy are determined. |
 Look back at Mt. Union. |
 We’ll save Mt. Union for another day. |
 Monika snaps a prize-winning picture. |
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We took a group picture at the top before our decent to reconnect with the trail. Bill had programmed some waypoints into his GPS following more gradual contour lines. Waypoint #8 was a guess of where we would connect with the trail. We picked our way through manzanita looking for clearings. Taking the route of least resistance was not easy. Clearings soon became thick and clogged. Just push. At times we became separated. Communication was difficult. Rudy had his batteries in backwards and Michael lost his radio to the bushes. Monica lost her cell phone. If it wasn’t manzanita, it was scrub oak. In a few weeks when the oak trees leaf out, bushwhacking would be impassible. |
 Sing “Yankee Doodle.” We’re on our way there. |
 The trees aren’t leafed out yet. |
 Monika |
 Rudy |
 Now, we’re going to bushwhack! |
 Someone built a fireplace. |
 This will do for a picnic spot. |
 Funyung, Scott, and Monika pass muster. |
 Scott finds a picnic with a view. |
 Rocks and rilles of the Bradshaw Mountains. |
 Lunch below the ridge. |
 Funyung enjoys a fine picnic. |
 I think it’s this way. |
 It’s a steep climb to get up there. [photo by Monika] |
 The view from Yankee Doodle Peak. |
 Trailblazers at Yankee Doodle Peak: Michael, Scott, Bill, Funyung, Rudy, Monika |
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At “TX” we found the trail. Enough adventure. Extending to the south would add more up on the return. We decided to return to the vehicle on a known trail. Yankee Doodle Peak was just a few yards off the trail. The return was uphill to waypoint “X284”. Bill asked if anyone was interested in extending the hike. Monica and Bill turned on the burners. They hoped to finish the extended hike on trail #285 through waypoint “Z2” arriving at the vehicle at the same time. They did. |
 Spring flowers, at last! |
 Bill and Rudy on Trail 284. [photo by Monika] |
 Closed. Phooey. |
 Open. Yay! |
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Dollar Bills Saloon in Breezy Pines was closed. Teskey’s restaurant in Mayer was open. Bill’s GPS: 8.3 miles +-2975 feet. Include Monica. All others somewhat less. Thanks to Michael for serving as the second driver. |
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Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club, Phoenix, Arizona
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updated April 24, 2016