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| Hiking | 11.56 Miles |
1,100 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.56 Miles | 7 Hrs 50 Mns | | 2.31 mph |
| 1,100 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 50 Mns Break | | | |
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| Partners |
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| partners | | With the cold snap behind us now and warmer weather approaching, it was time to get out on the trails again. Angela (Tibber) had asked me along on a hike to Reeds Water and since I hadn't been there before, I jumped at the opportunity. Also making the trip was John (johnr1) and Kelly (trekkin gecko) to round out the party.
We left Peralta TH a little after 0830 to occasional stiff breezes but pleasant sky's and temps. The clouds were high and torn from high altitude winds so it should make for great photos if they stay that way. The early morning sun lit the Dacite Cliffs as if they had a hidden power source of they're own.
As we reached the first saddle on the Dutchman's Trail, a sudden gust of wind almost knocked off my new hat and I was wondering if I shouldn't have brought a smaller one, but once on the downslope, the winds diminished and the temps began to rise a bit. The Barkley Basin below us was fresh and green in the morning sun, almost too green for the little rain we have had so far this season. The valley also appears surprisingly flat as though made for easy hiking through the amazing number of Giant Saguaro (little did I know).
We were surprised to hear the trickle of water across rocks and tumbling into a small pool at the first wash we crossed. The parched wash quickly absorbed the water so the pool wasn't getting any larger, but it's still a welcome sight and sound. A little further ahead on the first major rock outcropping, there was patches of white, high on the cliff face. I asked Angela what that was as I zoomed in the camera for a shot and she said it was bird do-do. OK, so I got a shot of bird poop.
Then it was on past Miners Needle and the obligatory photos of the "Needles Eye" at the confluence of the Coffee Flat Trail (108). A short distance past the Needle is an unusual rock outcropping knows as Castle Rock, a cleverly arranged collection of tall spires surrounding a taller rock center piece. Something to investigate in greater detail on a future hike. All the while we can see the formidable flat peak of Buzzards Roost in the distance, well behind our target destination.
After crossing the divide between Barkley Basin and Coffee Flats, I was surprised to see just how long Coffee Flat Mountain is. It makes a beautiful backdrop with its numerous 4,000 foot peaks towering high above Whitlow Canyon and the basin. The trail is constant rocks so you have to watch your foot placement with each step or risk the stumble, trip, fall.
In Whitlow Canyon, we made a short detour to the old, but still used, Whitlow Corral. It's pretty amazing to see such an old corral, made up entirely of Mesquite and Palo Verde trees, and securely held together with aging barbed wire. The corral sits alongside the wash, in the shadow of an unnamed mountain, a worthy detour.
About another three quarters of a mile, you are treated to some willow trees growing down in Coffee Flat Canyon and soon you can make out the top of one of the old windmills. If the wind gusts hard enough, the fan blades will rotate creating a most unusual sound (note to self: if planning an overnight here, bring along WD40). Angela thought it sounded like Whales communicating, I just thought it sounded like rusty equipment in need of maintenance. John and Kelly had to climb up to the fan to experience the thrill of something to climb  while I sat at the base and took photos.
A short distance from that windmill, through a gate, is the second windmill, this one in rough shape alongside a creek in Randolph Canyon. We paused in the dry creekbed and had our lunch break and explored the area for a while. I found a large boulder in the wash with four metates ground into the surface, so I hiked up into the cliffs to see if there was any more signs of an ancient people who lived here. I found nothing of interest except more excellent views of the canyons.
With the lunch break and the explorations finished(?) it was time to pack up and begin the trek back to the TH. The sun was a lot warmer now, the sky's were clear of the earlier clouds and the wind had died off. The afternoon sun painted a new perspective of the trails and mountains that we had traveled only a couple of hours earlier so it didn't feel like an out-and-back hike. The three quarters moon was visible in the Eastern sky above Coffee Flat Mountain so we positioned ourselves to include the moon in various shots as we worked our way back.
It was an enjoyable hike with good friends through some beautiful country, I hope we can get early rains to bring out the wildflowers that would add to the already stunning scenery. Back at the TH we toasted the days hike with Angela's "Pumpkin Spiced Beer" and some of Pat's special recipe Chocolate Chip Cookies. Thanks Kelly, Angela and John, I hope you include me in another adventure. |
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Randolph Canyon |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | | A small amount of water trickled down the wash between the cliffs. |
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Reeds Water |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | The tank was dry but there was a small pool of water in the creek. | | _____________________
| 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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