HDT Day 47: Along the Tonto Trail

Daily Miles: 16.0, Total Miles: 638.8

Gusty winds last night covered my tent and everything else with fine sand. I was even spitting grit out of my mouth during the night. That’s the payback for sleeping on a dry sandbar.

A slow start to the day picking my way alongside the Colorado River including a steep descent to Papago Creek. Then having to solve the puzzle of a near vertical rock face, a Class 3 scramble with just enough handholds. I wandered off the route soon after and had to backtrack to the right trail and get out on top.

I joined the Tonto Trail and followed the fairly even contour of Mineral Canyon and Hance Canyon. Then a short but arduous climb up to Horseshoe Mesa. I saw some old mines, mining equipment and signs of copper mineralization. Some rain and hail at this point forced me to seek cover in a few spots. I had lunch in a protected alcove, watching a rain squall blow in and then blow out, special moment for sure.

I dropped into pretty Cottonwood Canyon and filled up water bottles. Then crossed over and hiked up deep Grapeview Canyon until able to cross the wash.

I found a good campsite here early in the evening and next to a small flowing creek.