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| Hiking | 5.40 Miles |
2,780 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.40 Miles | | | |
| 2,780 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | This post is from my blog, Sirena's Wanderings: http://desertsirena.wordpress.com/2010/ ... ate-parks/
I had to go to Phoenix to do two Arizona Trail Talks at both of the REI locations, so I took the opportunity to visit another park that is scheduled to close in June, Lost Dutchman State Park. I have been hearing about this hike called the Flatiron for a while now, so I decided to finally do this hike while I was in Phoenix for my talks. It turned out to be a perfect hike! I am somewhat disenchanted with dayhiking lately. For a dayhike to wow me, it's got to be a good "bang for the buck" kind of hike. I have also recently gotten very into scrambling, which is basically hiking so rugged you have to use your hands to pull yourself up in places. The Flatiron definitely fit the bill! I hit the trail by 7:15. The trail to the Flatiron gets progressively more difficult as you leave the trailhead- from wide, flat trail to a well-maintained steeper portion and progressing to a scramble topped with a 10-foot wall to climb right as you reach the saddle.
As I reached the more difficult parts of the trail, I met a group of hikers that lived in nearby Mountainbrook Village. Several of the hikers had been to the Flatiron before, so I was able to follow them and use the path of least resistance, marked with spray-painted blue or white dots on the rock. The 10-foot wall that I had heard so much about wasn't too bad, just required a little thought into the hand and foot placement, and before I knew it, I had reached the saddle. Thankfully, my early start meant that the bulk of the climb was done in the shade, this would be one toasty hike at the wrong time of the day. At the saddle you can go right to the Flatiron or left toward Peak 5024. The group I tagged along with headed over to nearby Peak 5024, and I was glad I followed them. There were some parts that required me to take my pack off and shimmy underneath a passage in the boulders and hoodoos. This is one of my favorite parts of the Superstitions that I have been to thus far. The summit was spectacular! Views all the way south to the snow-covered Catalinas near my home in Tucson, a view of Weaver's Needle and the interior of the Superstitions, and the Four Peaks as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNWMLuqUzV8
The peak was so wonderful that by the time I headed down to the Flatiron, it was a little anticlimactic. I would urge those planning to hike the Flatiron to check out the nearby peak as well, it is certainly worth it! I had to get back to town to get ready for my speaking engagement at REI, so after spending some time on the Flatiron, it was time to head back to the car. On the way down, there were many more crowds, and I was glad that I had started early. The downhill scramble was much easier than uphill, and I made great time getting down to the trail in Siphon Draw. It is called the Siphon Draw because it drains a large portion of the Western Superstitions, and the water has carved out a beautiful natural bowl in the rock. Once past the Siphon Draw bowl, its back to good old trail again, and I would have flown down this area if I hadn't stopped so many times to take pictures of the greenery and wildflowers. The brittlebush hadn't bloomed yet, but there were great swaths of purple lupine, scorpionweed, poppies, Dichelostemma capitatum, and chicory all the way to the parking lot. Hopefully, the state will figure out an alternative to closing the state parks. My two Arizona Trail talks in Phoenix went very well, and I was able to raise almost $200 for the Wildlife Rehabilitation Fundraiser. For today's Wildlife Rehab picture, check my photoset for a tiny Harris' Antelope Squirrel. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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