Morning Glory Vista Dec 14
A short but steep spire hike starting from the Soldier Pass trailhead
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MORNING GLORY VISTA
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Our first stop is the Devil's Kitchen sinkhole. A 4.7 earthquake the previous week has opened up the crack on the side of the sinkhole farther.
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There is now a second crack farther away from the edge
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The Sphinx (our target) and the Mitten
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A corkscrewed Arizona cypress
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We stay close to town on this trail
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Climbing the Mitten, heading for the saddle to the right
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High on the saddle
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Now we cross over and take ledges around the Mitten to a saddle on the other side of it
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...Which leads to the Sphinx next to it. A good view of the Fort Apache layer from here.
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Climbing tne spire
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A good rest and view spot
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We make our way over to the side of the Sphinx, with a view of our previous rest spot
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Some good cross-bedding here
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Now to make our way down the side of the Sphinx
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A look back at the Sphinx
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Down the lower slopes to the Soldier Pass public trail
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The back of Coffee Pot is on the left
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Lunch, just before we hit the main trail
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At Seven Sacred pools, a flower not from around here. Perhaps there was a wedding.
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