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Michael, Betty, John, Mike, Elmer, Ted
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It’s a trade-off between distance and elevation gain.
The most direct route to Golden Hill 2726 gets awfully steep,
on a slickrock surface covered with pebbles that make for poor
footing.
So Ted chooses a roundabout route on this wild, exploratory
adventure in the southern Goldfields. We climb the slopes
east of peak 3047, then cross the canyon between the peak and
Golden Hill 2726.
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The day couldn’t be better for hiking! We start from
Hackamore Trailhead with a cool, refreshing breeze and not a
cloud in the sky.
Someone has marked the Orohai Trail with blue ribbons.
The trail isn’t that easy to find, now that it has
been re-routed. We continue north on Packsaddle Road, the
Green Thumb Trail, and a dirt road that takes us up to a
ridge with panoramic views.
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I think we’re going to climb up from the other side.
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We can see the Four Peaks as we climb the slope.
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Golden Hill 2726 and then Hat Top Hill come into view as
we approach Forest Road 1356 on the Green Thumb Trail.
We turn right on the road, then left at the junction near
a stock watering pond.
The side road gets rougher and more primitive as we make our
way north, passing Hat Top Hill and the Palo Verde Arch.
Finally we get past the ridgeline on our left. Here we leave
the road to begin our off-trail adventure in a rocky canyon.
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After fighting our way through brush and boulders, we discover
that the going is much easier on the north side of the canyon.
So we cross over and begin a steady climb along the slopes
east of peak 3047.
Lizards and a tiny turtle welcome us to their territory.
The ground itself is interesting, with pieces of chalcedony
and quartz crystals sparkling brightly in the sun.
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Colorful lichens and early spring flowers cheer us.
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Quartz flows after the other minerals solidify.
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Lichens decorate a checkerboard pattern.
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We’ll climb southeast on our final approach.
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Finally we reach a canyon overlook where we have to climb
down, then up along the canyon’s north side, and over
to our destination.
It’s steep, but soon we are across the canyon and
beginning our final ascent.
A rocky wash takes us southward, up to the saddle between
hill 2726 and hill 2576, its companion to the east.
From the saddle it’s a short rock climb to the top.
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We made it!
There are natural rock benches on the top of the hill, so
everyone stops to enjoy a picnic lunch with a view.
“This is my second attempt to climb up here,”
Ted confesses.
“It’s too steep from the other side.”
Looking down, no one doubts him.
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Picnic on the top of the world.
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Looking down on Hat Top Hill, from the top of Golden Hill 2726.
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“Well how are we going to get down?”
“We'll start the way we came up, then turn left and head
for the pass.”
The exploratory part is over when we reach the pass west of hill 2726.
From here it’s easy and mostly downhill.
But our plans change when a hiker slips and suffers
cuts from the rocks.
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We walk back to the road the easiest way, then Ted decides to
return to Hackamore Trailhead on the road instead of the trail.
Some young people on ATVs graciously offer to drive three of
us back to the trailhead.
The others walk back.
After the hike, Ted calls and learns that the hiker who fell
on the rocks has been to Urgent Care and is O.K.
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The home stretch: chollas mark our junction on Packsaddle Road.
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