GET Day 27: Mineral Creek and the Mogollons

Daily Miles: 16.2, Total Miles: 367.7

A fairly late start for me but I sure slept well.

Marianna gave me a ride back to Alma. She’s so nice and I insisted she accept a donation for gas and time.

From Alma, I walked almost six miles up Mineral Creek Road to the Mineral Creek TH. The creek had water in it part way up the road. Only one vehicle came up the road during this time and I graciously declined a lift from a “prospector”.

I was pleasantly surprised by the wonderful five-mile hike up Mineral Creek. A stream cascading over slickrock through a narrow canyon with steep, volcanic walls.

The only downside is that I slipped on the mossy slickrock and fell completely into the water, twisting and falling on my side. Only my pride was hurt. Of course, the mining ruins and remnants perked my interest. I met the prospector and he told me that his landlord will take an ounce of gold for rent per month. He can usually cover it by his panning trips to the creek.

I took a steep side trail up Log Canyon that dropped me into Silver Creek on Bursam Road. No time this go around to visit the ghost town of Mogollon, only one mile away at this point. Instead, I turned up Bursam Road and followed it up to about 8,300 ft where the road departs Silver Creek.

Saw my first bear on the GET this afternoon. A small bear walked across the creek and the road in front of me and scampered up a steep slope.

Burned some calories today!