Cabin Loop East, Days 4-5

Our fourth day, Sunday, was the easiest. We crossed seveal small draws in the morning, then hiked gradually downhill for three miles on Houston Trail until we came back to our starting point, Pinchot Cabin, for the night. On the Houston Trail, there is a large fenced-off area where the State is protecting a riparian area. It was an amazing place with Houston Creek, large green fields, and fern forests on the side we were hiking on. We saw several cavelike springs along the way. That night it started to rain early, but stopped late at night. Sunday morning it rained constantly from 6 am until about 10 am.

A large cache of shell fossils

Aelin found a large turkey feather and an Arizona Bluejay feather

Ready to Roll!

The morning hike was through several draws that were

populated by maple tree stands

Poser!

On the Houston Trail going north to Pinchot Cabin,

before the riparian areas

Aelin found a Fairy Ring!

Entering the protected Riparian areas

Indian Paintbrush

More riparian area

A spring from a cave

Buttercups, I think

Mullein

A cabin fireplace

A cabin in the woods

The last mile down to Pinchot cabin

Our last camp

Hiking along the riparian area on Houston Trail

More riparian area on Houston Trail

Thunderstorm Monday morning

More rain Monday morning

Getting ready to leave

Cabin Loop East, Day 3

The third day, Sunday, was easier than Saturday. We hiked in and out of seven draws and two canyons. Only the last canyon was a quad-killer. We hiked up Dane Canyon, across Coyote Spring, Bill McClintock Draw, several unnamed draws, into the "shallow" Dane Canyon and through the deep Barbershop Canyon. We did not like the Barbershop Spring area at the top of Barbershp canyon, so we hiked a little further and stayed in a pine forest for the night. We were closely missed by eight thunderstorms that night, and two more crashed over us. There was one thunderclap that caught all three of us by surprise, and we jumped in unison! The next morning was wet and partly coudy, a perfect fourth day of hiking.

Heading out of Dane Spring and South toward Coyote Spring

Wandering a bit in Dane Canyon

Over McCLintock Ridge to Barbershop Canyon

Well deserved lunch stop before Barbershop Canyon

Someone built a hut on McClintock Ridge!

Starting down into Barbershop Canyon

A large group of butterflies on a dog poo in Dane Canyon

See the video

Aelin looking funny at our camp between Barbershop Spring and the Houston Trail

A mass of butterflies on 

a large dog poo in Dane Canyon south