GET Day 7: Gila River and Tortilla Mountains

Daily Miles: 20.0, Total Miles: 85.0

I made a note to myself last night to find out if bobcats can meow similar to house cats. That’s what I heard several times from my tent – I doubt a feral cat would be way out here.

I refilled water bottles from Walnut Creek and headed down the wash, through the Narrows and joined the AZT at the Gila River. On the way, I skirted around a dead coyote and a dead cow. Great views back towards the buttes and Walnut Canyon.

It was a warm hike along the Gila River to the Kelvin-Riverside Bridge. Nice to see some ocotillos in full bloom and poppies starting to erupt along the trail – could be spectacular with a little rain. I thought about heading into Kearny but still pretty early.

I got water at the ADOT maintenance yard faucet and set out across the Gila River on the old bridge. A new, much higher bridge is being installed and construction pretty far along. I hiked for another six miles and stopped on a gravelly ridge in the Tortilla Mountains – nice views and a purple-pink sunset.

Only saw a pair each of AZT hikers and bikers today.