DWTH Day 28: Bill Williams River & Beyond

Daily Miles: 13.3, Total Miles: 410.3

The wild burros were noisily running amok this morning around Alamo Lake. So nice to have a picnic table and a nearby toilet with running water – a rare treat!

I met a ranger this morning on my walk towards the Alamo Lake Dam – he said the Bill Williams River was running at 30cfs. He also mentioned a recent sighting of a mountain lion and cub. I also had a game of chicken with a burro – he made the first move after loudly huffing at me.

A few ups and downs on primitive roads and x-country and I was finally able to drop down below the dam to the Bill Williams River and the Rawhide Mountains Wilderness.

The roughly two miles along the river was very slow going primarily due to the heavy vegetation along the river’s edge. It was a bit of trial and error on the best way to navigate downstream and cross the river 12 times. These crossings were necessary to get around jutting rocks and steep canyon walls. After getting beat up by catclaw, thickets and trees and having to backtrack a few times, I found it best to mostly stay in the water and wade along the edges (shades of the Escalante River!).

Now slow but steady progress, I was rewarded with a very scenic journey through the narrow rocky canyon surprising a large number of ducks along the way. I stocked up with water on the last crossing – no water for the next 22 miles.

I next faced a steep, x-country route out of the Bill Williams River and into other canyons and drainages via washes and old mining roads. I met a few ATVs later in the day, both occupants checking on me and one giving me a cold Gatorade – even sticking around to take the empty bottle.

Late in the afternoon, I enjoyed a walk down a narrow redrock canyon, a slot canyon in places and navigable pouroffs. The shade was appreciated on a hot day.

Once the canyon opened up, I had to find my way around a large ranch property, mostly fenced. Signage indicates Freeport McMoran Copper & Gold ownership or maybe just exploration rights.

I finally called it a day at dusk and camped near the property on BLM land.

Bird of the day: Say’s Phoebe