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This Picture-mentary lets you join Gary Birkett and his dog Cubby on a
hike up The Big Hill on the north side of Passage 15 of the Arizona Trail.
At the crest, Gary unfurls a Chicago Cubs W and we meet up with an
82-year old cowboy hiking the AZ Trail on horseback.
This is one of many adventures that can be enjoyed in the Copper
Corridor. The Copper Corridor is located EAST of Phoenix along US 60
through Superior and Globe-Miami. It also extends southward along
State Route 177 past the Ray Mine Overlook, the Jake Jacobson Bridge
of Unity, and the historic communities of Kearny, Hayden, Winkelman,
Dudleyville, Aravaipa, Mammoth, San Manuel and Oracle
He LOVES to hike!
At the trailhead at the northern
end of Passage 15, information
placards provide detailed
information about how to
properly use the Arizona Trail.
He is a happy
puppy when hes
on a hike with his
dad!
The back-side of
the Big Hill trail
begins going UP
immediately.
It passes through a
saguaro-cactus rich
portion of the
Sonoran Desert.
These Teddy Bear
Cholla cactus look
soft, but they are
very dangerous.
As we climbed in
elevation we
noticed how small
the trail below us
was becoming. The
Big Hill rises about
2,000 feet
vertically above
where you begin.
The peak is at
3,500 feet above
sea level.
Gary and Cubby
pose with a cairn.
Volunteers stacked
these rock piles to
help hikers identify
that they are still
safely on the
Arizona National
Scenic Trail.
Were making
progress. The trail
is beginning to zig-
zag in switchbacks.
WHEW!
The Tortilla
Mountains and the
canyon of Ripsey
Wash are way over
yonder!
From the crest of the Big Hill we see Saddleback and the Hayden
Smokestack. That might be snow-capped Mount Graham in the distance.
Ray High Schools football field, auditorium, and ball fields far below us.
Cubby gets
watered and fed.
Weve made it
to the top of
the Big Hill!
W
In honor of their
first World Series
WIN since 1908!
Gary and Cubby atop the Big Hill with snow-capped Pinals in the distance!
Just then four horsemen achieved the summit of the Big Hill.
They dismounted and let the horses rest from the long trek uphill.
Bryce Kempton is the 82-year old horseman we had heard about!
Bryce and Gary visited while Cubby checked out the horses.
On our way back
down we noticed
an old Saguaro
with some really
gnarly branches!
After we packed
things into the jeep
we headed back
out Ripsey Wash to
the trailhead.
We remembered
to close the gates
of all the passages
we drove through.
Please hike
responsibly!
Back at the
trailhead we met
up with the
Kemptons.
We made sure to
sign the log book
for the Arizona
National Scenic
Trail. These log
books verify active
users of the
Arizona Trail and
help justify funding
to keep it
maintained.
Back in Kearny,
Gary and Gerry
signed the Big W
to certify that this
is the ACTUAL W
that was carried up
and displayed on
The Big Hill.
The W is
viewable at Old
Time Pizza along
with an article
from The Arizona
Republic.
And please tell your friends how much fun you had here!