Superstition Ridgeline Hike - where is the exposure point?

[mozdzen]

Hi,
I've made it about a mile or two on the ridgeline after coming up siphon draw and I've made it from Carney to Superstition Mountain (5070), but I didn't encounter the area where people say there is a little exposure.

Can someone point this out to me? gps coordinates or something?

Also, in looking at the GPS routes uploaded to this hike, I've got a question about the part just west of superstition peak.
It looks like the trail goes right over the hill just west of the peak and then it looks a little steep where you go down a bit and to the left.
Just wondering if that is just another normal section of the ridge or if that is a part where you are on the hairy edge of a steep slope?

Thanks - can't wait to give it a try soon.

Tom

[joebartels]

Hi Tom,

There are no exposures on the ridgeline to be of concern unless you specifically go to the edge which is not required. The end pieces that you have already traveled are the most difficult. There is one small scramble in the middle but it's easier than the ten foot wall up to the Flatiron. It's in a tiny narrow so there is no risk off falling off the ridgeline. Nowhere on the ridge are you walking anything as thin as a tight rope. In the one section that it does narrow, I've never heard of anyone being concerned or scared.

This is the section most likely fear. On the contrary it's the most soothing worry free section of the hike. You can make good time across a majority of this terrain or you can easily let the hours melt away. The route is well worn or cairned across. A few sucker trails may tempt or swindle. However you really can't go over five minutes in the wrong direction...

...do hope you'll consider posting a triplog so we can all hear how it goes

[mozdzen]

Thanks Joe!

[Jim]

I picked a random thread that wasn't an event to ask:

What is a reasonable mileage and AEG for an out and back on the ridge to 5057 from the Mining Camp? With, or without the flatiron and 5024. Using JJ3's track and editing it, I got about 14.9 miles and 5900'.

[mozdzen]

I think that is a reasonable estimate. I recently determined that it was more than a Grand Canyon South Rim hike from Kaibab to Bright Angel via Phantom.

[ddgrunning]

I've got a question about the part just west of superstition peak.
It looks like the trail goes right over the hill just west of the peak and then it looks a little steep where you go down a bit and to the left.
Just wondering if that is just another normal section of the ridge or if that is a part where you are on the hairy edge of a steep slope?

Agree with Joe. No exposure to be concerned about. That said, I think that section just north/west of Superstition Peak and around peak 4790 can be a little tricky to navigate. There are several cairned routes through this section and, it seems, no consensus on which is the "best" one. No risk of getting "lost" really, but it can be a little slow-going to pick your way through there. The other potentially tricky area is a little further west by peak 4869. We got pulled off on a "sucker trail" just west of 4869 (below the north side of the ridge), instead of staying along the ridge itself. This sucker trail is fairly worn (and thus will likely continue to draw people down it), but is probably only a temptation if you are going west to east on the ridgeline.

If you've been comparing the various routed folks have uploaded, those are the two areas where you'll see the most "variation."

[mozdzen]

I was hoping to post a copy of my TopoUSA view of the ridgeline trail to make sure I knew which peaks you were referring to.
I've got 4790 as about 4765 and it is the peak just NW of Superstition Peak (I think 5040 is called superstition peak).
Then quite a ways west, I have a 4815 peak (not quite 4869).

I think I can send you a file link - could you please look at my route and tell me near which waypoint markers are the peaks you mention?

Thanks,
Tom

http://1drv.ms/1jeNwls

That is a link to my OneDrive file.
or send me an email at tjmozdzen@gmail.com, and I'll email you the jpg file

[chumley]

@mozdzen
There are very robust maps here on HAZ. You can draw/edit, import and export GPS routes using Route Manager.

The points ddg is talking about are all clearly visible on several layers of maps including FS Topo, Caltopo, and MyTopo (change layers from the menu in the top right corner).

You will find them along the official route for the ridgeline hike posted here on site.

http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=4334

[mozdzen]

Very nice! Thanks. That answers my questions.

Just one last question. I've been calling the eastern peak "Superstition Peak" and have no name for the Western peak.
Do you know if they have names other than 5057 (by Carney) and 5024 (by flatiron)?
Thanks,
Tom

[chumley]

@mozdzen
I've heard the west one sometimes called "Superstition Mountain", but for clarity sake I most frequently know them each to be called by their peak elevation.

pronounced "fifty-twenty-four" and "fifty-fifty-seven"

[mozdzen]

I finally hiked the Ridgeline from Lost Dutchman State Park ending at Carney Springs on Sunday.
10.5 hrs - ouch.

I'll post a triplog shortly but was wondering if anyone has pictures of the "Rock Wall" that needed to be climbed just before reaching the 5057 area? Really wanted a picture of that last obstacle, but didn't want to climb back down and take a shot as we were running late at the time (3pm)

Thanks,
Tom

[joebartels]

Maybe you were off the route. I don't recall any walls in that area but maybe I wasn't on route... lol

you can see what is posted at
http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=4577

closer satellite if you don't understand how to work the map
http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=4578

If you have a gps route it would be easier to decipher.

[mozdzen]

I've got a Garmin GPS route, but I'm not sure how to link it here. (.gpx file)
I'll try a link to my OneDrive.

Picture of the route in question.
http://1drv.ms/21ocPD2

There was a trail that looked like it went around this last mountain, but it was deviating from the official route, so we turned back and decided the right way to go was up. It was not that difficult, but I wasn't expecting it either. Maybe it didn't stand out in other people's minds as much as it did mine.

gpx file of the route
http://1drv.ms/21od0OH

[chumley]

I've got a Garmin GPS route, but I'm not sure how to link it here.

Click POST at the top of the homepage.

How to post a GPS Route

[tibber]

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=248125
is this what you're talking about.

[big_load]

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=248125
is this what you're talking about.

Is that the last step up out of Siphon Draw?

[FOTG]

@joe bartels@mozdzen

I think you/he is talking about this area, maybe chute would be a more accurate description than wall...But I think someone posted a similar question in previous forum topic..

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9272&p=115106&hilit ... ne#p115106
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=299076
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=87006
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=319714

[mozdzen]

@friendofThundergod
I think that is it. My memory of the different sections gets corrupted, I'm finding.
The way I got up this one is that there was a crevice - horizontal V shaped just to the left of the chute. I was able to wedge myself into the V to get some height up and then a step around the right got me up and onto easy stuff.

I'm not seeing the crevice in these pics, but the rest of the chute does look familiar.

Thanks!
Tom

[mozdzen]

@big_load
This is on the other end of the Ridgeline - near 5057, not 5024.
That picture doesn't seem like the chute I'm talking about.
The post below by friendofThunder seems to have nailed it.

[chumley]

I think you/he is talking about this area, maybe chute would be a more accurate description than wall...But I think someone posted a similar question in previous forum topic..

Yup. Right there as the top-rated "similar topics" at the bottom of this thread.
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=9272