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First aidIt's Colossal! LbNA #71011

Owner:Wisconsin Hiker
Plant date:Mar 11, 2017
Location:
City:Vail
County:Pima
State:Arizona
Boxes:2
Found by: Heyford (2)
Last found:Nov 26, 2022
Status:FFFFFF
Last edited:Mar 21, 2017
Last found/checked: 12-FEB-17

Location: lassoloC evaC niatnuoM kraP
Hike Distance: Approximately 1.2 miles roundtrip
Terrain: Gravel/rocky trail, fairly level.

This series was a joint effort of Wisconsin Hiker & Martini Man.

After passing through the park gate, drive by the road for the caves and continue on to the next left turn for the Bosquecito and La Sevilla picnic areas. Continue on this narrow road towards La Sevilla. Pass the RV camping area and watch for a picnic/camping site on the left and a rock outcropping above on the right, just before the AZ Trail crosses the road. Park here. (If the road turns left and enters a wash with a painted rock, you have gone too far!)

After parking, walk 75-80 steps further down the road through a small wash. Turn left onto the AZ Trail. Wind up the hill and start watching for a squid-like tentacled half-dead mesquite tree on the left. Continue several steps further, passing a large boulder on the left and then stopping between two smaller boulders on each side of the trail. Look on a bearing of 310° to see a palo verde. Make your way to the rock on the right side of this tree. You’ll find a Colossal Squid beneath the lip of the rock. The largest animal in the world is the blue whale, but the largest invertebrate (a spineless creature) is the colossal squid. The Colossal Squid is also the proud owner of the LARGEST eyes on earth. Statistics - Full length: 50 ft, Eyes: 10 in, Weight: 1000 lbs.

Continue further down the trail to “Geology and Habitats”. Take a bearing of 320° and walk in to a small dead tree trunk. Go a bit further to a long rock near a bush (about 30 steps from the trail). You’ll find the Ancient Colossus under a SPOR at the end of the rock. This Colossus was one of the Ancient Wonders of the World. It was a statue of the Greek god Helios and it stood watch over the harbor of Rhodes. It towered over 100 feet above the entrance to the protected breakwater. It is still considered a monumental feat for its time and stood over Rhodes for one hundred years before falling victim to an earthquake.

Retrace your steps to return to your car OR continue a bit further to a picnic area and then follow the rustic road south to return to your car.

We’d appreciate an email to let us know how these colossal things are doing. Thank you!


Hike length: 1-2 miles