With damage to the trail from the Slide fire and being premature for the peak of fall color, we did not have high expectations for this year's iconic hike
1 WEST FORK SURPRISE
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3 Crossing the orchard at Call of the Canyon Ranch
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10 We make our way along the public trail
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15 The water seems to be lower than expected, especially given the rainy year
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18 PLenty of other hikers on the trail this time of year
19 Ferns are the first to brown off with frost
20 The Arizona bigtoooth maple gives us most of the reds.
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23 We encounter small spot burns that came from embers dropped from the big fire above
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29 This big
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43 There are thirteen water crossings on the public part of the trail
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56 The color may not be as spectacular as in other years, but it's nice enough
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60 The "Indian Head" formation
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67 Anopther huge rock fallen from the walls
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75 The rainy summer has produced moss
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77 "Are we all together?"
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79 The largest single fallen rock, a venerable giant
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86 This high ledge is a favorite break spot...
87 ...But this time, we find a way to the bottom
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89 The ledge from the other side of the Fork
90 The undercut wall on the other side, a seldom-visited place
91 We document graffiti and report it to the Forest Service
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93 Equisetum, or horsetail
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104 A pause for reflection
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112 Now it gets rougher
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115 In a sheltered location, an unfrosted fern
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122 This rounded rock must have been rolled some distance by floods
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134 The end of the public trail, and we find...
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137 This section of the Fork normally has to be waded
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141 A rippled sandy bottom
142 The narrow canyon at this point usually means fast, deep water
143 Today everyone is taking advantage of the iunexpected dry land
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153 Bracket fungus
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155 We come to "The Beach"
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159 These small pits are caused by wind erosion of certain special types of sandstone
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163 The canyon is passable still farther up, but this is as far as we have time for
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166 So we have lunch at the end of the beach. Normally, reaching this point requires hours of wading.
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171 We start back along the upper canyon
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182 Pooling water means more reflections
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193 The public trail starts just ahead
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203 Sharing a snack
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205 Nature recycles a dead tree
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220 Back at the Mayhew ranch. This was originally a chicken coop...
