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| Hiking | 9.40 Miles |
1,125 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.40 Miles | 4 Hrs 18 Mns | | 2.19 mph |
| 1,125 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I felt the urge to get out for a hike after a week of shuttling my brother to Mayo in Scottsdale for radiation treatment on two tumors, one on his back, the other on his spine. So I got up early and was at the First Water TH signing in at 0(dark)600. It's such a relief to get out before the trails get choked with hikers and this morning was no different as I listened to a couple of owls hooting off in the distance.
I made good time on the deserted trails and was coming up on Parker Pass as the sun was breaking over Black Top Mesa. I was finally able to get some first-light shots of some Indian Paintbrushes that are making a strong spring presence along the Dutchman's Trail. As I descended into Boulder Canyon, I was pleasantly surprised to hear and then see a good volume of water in Boulder Creek, I thought it would be dry by now.
The trail signpost came into view and I made a left turn onto the Black Mesa Trail heading up towards Yellow Peak. I crossed Boulder Creek again and tried to get some photos of a pair of Blue Jays bouncing around the branches of a Palo Verde, but they didn't like my presence and stayed out of range. The well worn trail leading up is full of loose rock and it's hard to make good time along it but soon it levels off as I entered a forest of Jumping Cholla. It was along here that I met my first hikers and they were followed by several more (21 in all). So there went the peace and quiet that I had gotten so used to already.
The slopes of Black Mesa are full of blooming Brittlebush and it's such a pleasure to see so much color in the Superstitions and smell the aroma of the season. Soon I was arriving in Garden Valley with it's noisy crowds so I made a left turn following the Second Water Trail down into the valley. A short distance later and I was at the old Barkley Ranch site and presented with a very colorful patch of Purple Sand Mat that covered the entire area.
Too soon I was back at the trailhead talking with the Forest Service Volunteers about my hike as the hikers continued to pour into the already full parking lot. Yep, it's worth getting up early to have the trails all to yourself.... for a while. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Although labeled Moderate, there's all the signs in place for much more. |
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| 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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Route Editor
Route Scout
