AZT – Passage 11a – Butterfly Trailhead to Bigelow Trailhead

• Distance – 7.7 miles / 12.38 kilometers
• Elevation Gain – 1873 feet / 571 meters
• Elevation Loss – 1634 feet / 498 meters
• Average Temperature – 85.3° F / 29.6° C
• Total Mileage – 127.96 miles / 216.93 kilometers

This final hike  on Passage 11a will complete this passage for the WWW.  It has been a beautiful Passage for hiking during the summer months.  Mountain temperatures are much cooler than those in the desert.

Today we indoctrinated a fourth member to the WWW, her name is Marie and her trail name is Silver Bullet.   Welcome Silver Bullet!

The WWW

The hike started out with a delightful decline and pleasant temperatures (we were on the trail at 6:45 am).

The Silver Bullet led the way for the entire hike, she is one strong hiker!  There she is far ahead of the rest of us.

We oohed and aahed at the scenery.  Living in the desert, the sights and scents of the forest are intoxicating.

But quickly the terrain changed and we were encountering many rock formations and facing an endless incline.

There were a few trees laying across the trail – we had to climb over them.

And more enormous rock formations.

And still we climbed.

And yet another log to get over.

And  we continued to climb for what seemed forever.  At one point we all were exhausted, well most of us anyway.  Marie was already rested up, she arrived before the rest of us.

After we refueled and caught our breath, we continued on.  Look at this horny toad Lova spotted on the side of the trail.

We finally made it to the Bigelow Trailhead and were all thankful to get into the air-conditioned car and head up to the Saw Mill Run for a celebratory lunch!