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| Hiking | 11.80 Miles |
1,560 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.80 Miles | 7 Hrs 30 Mns | | 2.05 mph |
| 1,560 ft AEG | 1 Hour 45 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | It's All about the Water I guess that's what it comes down to for this hike.
I arrived at the First Water Trailhead around 0800, a bit before my two hiking partners Tibber (Angela) and Shawn (Sredfield) so I parked my truck and got the preparations finished by the time they pulled in. Although the day started out at a chilly 34 degrees, once we got into our gear and headed down the trails it was soon evident that we had selected a good day for our hike down Boulder Canyon. Angela and I had cancelled a hike from Peralta to First Water just two weeks ago on account of rain, so the Hiking Gods owed us one.
It was determined that we would do the trip counter clockwise by hiking the Dutchman's Trail so by the time we arrived at Parker Pass, we were ready to start shedding layers. A bit more comfortable now, we continued on until we reached the trail marker for Boulder Canyon. A short distance to the East, we could see a tent and smell the aroma of an early morning campfire from a pair of overnight campers.
We hung a hard left at the sign post and almost immediately we could hear the sounds of running water cascading over the rocks in the creek. The sights and sounds were so overwhelming that YEP, time to go into "Tibber Mode". The sun was bright and caused a lot of light reflections from the water so it was hard to work the scenery reflections in with the clear pools, but the water was so clear that it didn't matter anyway.
The trip down Boulder Canyon is constantly crisscrossing the creek, hopping from rock to rock and trying not to slip and get wet. At several places along the way, more small streams fed into Boulder Creek adding to the flow. The flow from Needle Canyon was especially impressive as it tumbled over a series of small cascades and into the creek.
We took a lunch break as we just passed the six-mile mark, on a large flat boulder alongside the creek. Across the creek and well above us was the stern of Battleship Mountain, while behind us high up on the hillside was a large boulder all squared off like a dice, missing the dots of course. And the sounds of the running water to entertain our senses.
It was hard to resist the desire to take a nap following the lunch, but we fought it off and continued on down the canyon. The only other hikers we had seen so far was a lone hiker that we had met a short distance from the Trailhead and the overnight campers so we had the Superstitions all to ourselves. But that wouldn't last much longer.
Angela spotted the signpost for Second Water Canyon so we left Boulder Canyon and began the long trip up to Garden Valley. Along the way, be met more hikers and a string of horseback riders all heading down into the canyon. Once in Garden Valley with it's soft ground, we left the trails and headed straight East crossing over to the far ridges. The views from the edge of Garden Valley looking towards the covered corral are one of my favorites and now there was water down there to add to the already pleasant view.
Then it was on down the trail to the covered corral and back to the trailhead where we took our final break. Angela treated us to her favorite "Pumpkin Spiced Beer" (before you turn up your noses at that, you gotta try it), while I provided us with some of Pat's home baked Chocolate Chip Cookies (cookies and pumpkin spiced beer.....yum) while we removed our hiking gear.
A very heartfelt thanks to Angela and Shawn for including me in this great hike, now to reschedule that Peralta to First Water.
I hope everyone out there had a very Merry Christmas and tonight, enjoy the welcoming in of 2013 HAPPY NEW YEAR, HAZ'ERS  |
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Second Water Spring |
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| | | Although I didn't go down and check it out, there was water flowing in the creek by the spring. | | _____________________
| 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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