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Arizona Trailblazers
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Kendrick Mountain
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After driving about three hours, we start on the trailhead around
10:00 AM. It is cool and comfortable. The trail, starting at about
8,000', is a gentle uphill trek on very well marked ground. Rocks
and charred tree branches line the trail. Evidence of the 2000
Pumpkin Fire is ubiquitous. Blackened, dead ponderosa pines can
be seen everywhere. Still, the ferns and desert roses and baby
aspens offer some color and life. We stop for air and water
frequently. Ted Tenny, wearing a new pair of hiking boots, stops
to protect a new blister on his heel. Soon, this blister prevents
him from continuing and he turns back.
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About an hour into the hike, we hit a sign near a switchback
that reads "Kendrick Peak". From here, we leave the
ponderosa pine trees to enter rockier ground with Douglas fir,
Engelmann spruce, and larger stands of pristine aspen. We can
see Mt. Humphreys and its last trace of snow in the distance.
Now, at the end of June, the sun has melted all of the remains
of winter on Kendrick Mountain.
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Approximately 1/4 to 1/2 mile from the summit, we encounter the
old 1912 service cabin. It still contains beds and shelter for
hikers trapped by the elements. This cabin was used until the
1930s, when the new lookout was constructed on the summit.
Behind the cabin is a junction with Bull Basin Trail.Continuing on the Kendrick Peak trail, we stroll up the last fraction of a mile to reach the summit. The elevation is 10,418', and our lungs miss the oxygen. We have been hiking uphill for a little over two hours. |
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Some of us climb the steps of the lookout,
but the ranger is not home; so instead, we sit on what appears
to be a helicopter pad and visit with numerous other people, who
are escaping the smoldering heat of the Valley. There is a woman
on the summit who lives on my street in an adjoining Tempe
neighborhood! It is cool and cloudy on top. On a clear day, one
can see the Grand Canyon, the Vermillion Cliffs, Mingus Mountain,
the San Francisco Peaks, and many other awesome landmarks.
After food and photos and rest, we leave the other hikers and descend. The lack of oxygen is not so evident when one is going down! We finally reach our vehicles after strolling downhill for an hour and a half. Overall, we hiked between 7-8 miles (the books disagree) with 2,400 feet of elevation change. I think all of us would agree that the early awakening on a Saturday morning, the six hour roundtrip drive, and the huffing and puffing were worth the rewards on Kendrick Mountain. |
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| Home | Club Info | Officers | Meeting Minutes | Activities | Trip Reports | | Hike Descriptions | Trip Planning Guide | Lessons Learned | Links | Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club, Phoenix, Arizona For comments regarding this site contact . Updated June 28, 2005 |