DWTH Day 7: Ragged Top to Sagittarius Rd

Daily Miles: 19.5, Total Miles: 107.1

I got some unexpected rain last night- always a concern when camping in a wash but it wasn’t very intense. The doves were cooing and coyotes yipping early in the morning so I had my coffee and Pop Tart and was on the trail by 6:30am.

The first thing I noticed was a powerline to a nearby ranch was the roost for several turkey vultures. The next thing I noticed was the beauty of Ragged Top, Walcott Peak and surrounding desert. I had read Ragged Top was the gem of the IFNM and I second that motion.

Skirted north around Ragged Top on a dirt road and then a wash. I was pretty excited to see a set of what looked like recent footprints in the wash thinking it may be a hiker. The last hiker I knew was on the DWTH was Twig and that was in early February. I then discovered at least two other sets of prints on the other side of the wash. And soon after, empty 1/2-gallon water jugs and trash at an obvious camp. I don’t think thru-hikers.

I soon headed northeast for about a mile and a half on an old railroad bed. These were remnants of a defunct railroad that served the mining communities around the ghost town of Silver Bell. It would have been a straight shot but the RR bed was washed out in several places requiring several steep detours. Sadly saw the remains of another migrant camp with several abandoned daypacks, bottles and trash strewn around. Spooked a single javelina just before leaving the RR bed.

Soon crossed Silver Bell Road where I had cached water a few months before. I was very disappointed to see my water bottle had been replaced with an empty Budweiser can. I must be more selective in my “hiding spots”.

Turned west at the edge of dark-rocked Malpais Hill formed with volcanic and plutonic rocks. I had to trudge for almost two miles cross-country through a very braided wash floodplain. Finally arrived at a cattle tank and trough-silty water but filtered okay. I carried six liters, I think for only the second time on all my hikes due to suspect water at the next possible sources.

I skirted the base of the rocky West Silverbell Mountains and soon exited out of IFNM. No signage but I had this info in my notes.

The landscape changed as I got closer to an inhabited area. Getting late, I decided to camp in a small wash near Sagittarius Road. Not a rock to be had and it was very windy. Earplugs for sure tonight and I expect a collapsed tent at some point.

Lots of birds and rabbits today but no hikers and one passing truck.