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| Hiking | 5.75 Miles |
521 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.75 Miles | 2 Hrs 33 Mns | | 5.48 mph |
| 521 ft AEG | 1 Hour 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Another great day for a hike in the Superstition Mountains, and this one just happened to coincide with HAZ's 16th anniversary (purely a coincidence)and a worthy tribute to all HAZ members everywhere 
Our day began at the Horse Parking Lot on First Water Road. As the members of the hiking team began to arrive, we greeted each other, some for the first time. Superstition Guy showed up to meet and greet with us although a trick knee was not going to allow him to join us on the hike, but it was a pleasure to finally meet him in the flesh.
When the handshakes and back slaps finally ended, I treated the group to one of my wife's homemade chocolate chip cookies as we geared up to hit the trail. We left the parking area by the back side, heading North to a dry wash that soon turned into a scenic slot canyon that offered good walking through the desert and joined First Water Creek just downstream from the old Barkley horse corral. Then a short distance down the boulder strewn creek bed and around a couple of bends, we found ourselves in the Hackberry Spring "campgrounds" 
This is such a beautiful area, so unlike much of the Superstitions harsh environment. I got Pam's attention and pointed at the base of the cliff, telling her to check it out. When she saw the spring, I won my rights to a beer at the Blueberry Mine Store
As we continued on down the path, Pam noticed that a campfire was still smoldering so she got water from the spring to drown the remaining embers before a spark could spread and engulf this magical area in a blaze. So now our good deed for the day was behind us too and we continued on down trail to the cutoff that would bring us up on the opposite side of the massive rock from which the spring flowed.
We arrived at the saddle where the trail continues up alongside Hackberry Mesa to Garden Valley and took a short break to admire the views of Four Peaks and the First Water Canyon. After the break, we finished the ascent to Garden Valley and again paused at the presence of Weavers Needle showing itself in the distance past Black Mesa. Then it was across the soft plains of the Garden, down the opposite slope, crossing First Water Creek and the gradual ascent to the trailhead. We met only a few other hikers along the way, maybe they avoided us as this was not a quiet bunch and I'm quite sure other hikers could hear us coming from a long way off 
Once back at the parking lot, we had some more chocolate chip cookies (I brought plenty along) as we packed up the hiking gear, took a few more pictures of the group then headed on back to the Blueberry Mine Store to collect on the free beer  It's a pleasant stop following a hike to sit under the shade canopy, have a cool beverage and discuss the highlights of the day then break up and head back home.
A great big HAZ thanks to all who came along and to Owen, the Superstition Guy, for their participation. Hope we can do this again in the not-to-distant future  |
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First Water Creek |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | Only a few pools of non-flowing water exist in the smooth rock areas of the creek. |
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Hackberry Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | The pool of water behind the discharge pipe is full and clear although there were frogs hiding in the weeds. Seepage from the pipe was dripping. | | _____________________
| On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip. |
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