| | -
-
-
-
| 1 label |  |
|
|
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 5.68 Miles |
400 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.68 Miles | 2 Hrs 51 Mns | | 2.42 mph |
| 400 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Monday is the day that I work the Peralta Trailhead as a Forest Service Volunteer so I got an early start and arrived at the parking lot at 0615. I went about my duties of cleaning the grounds and outhouse and when finished, it was still too quiet so I thought about taking a hike out along the Dutchman's Trail.
Often as hikers arrive at the trailhead, they want to know the conditions within the Wilderness so by hiking the trails, I can give them a first-hand report on the wildlife, flowers, trail conditions and snake reports. So I grabbed my camera and my hiking gear and headed out for a stroll in the desert.
The temperature was in the mid 60's with few clouds to break up the sun and a slight breeze to keep comfortable. Once over the low saddle, I hiked down to the incredibly green Barkley Basin that was in the process of showing off it's spring flowers. I was surprised at the number of Fairy Dusters in bloom with most being a pink color and a few more in plain white. The Brittlebush are blooming everywhere both in the basin and on up the slopes into the higher elevations. Small patches of bright orange Globemallow are found growing along the trail intermixed with several varieties of white blooms.
This continued all the way to the signpost where the Coffee Flats Trail breaks off and is going to be my turn-around point with Miners Needle looking on from high above the trails. Up till now, I hadn't seen another hiker on the trails and I was getting used to the quiet, the only sounds coming from the birds working the trees, bushes and along the trail. Soon I met three hikers making the loop around Miners Needle and before long two more came into view.
When I returned to the trailhead I was surprised to see that the parking lot was more than half full and more cars were coming down the road so I put my gear back into the truck and began helping the people as they arrived. Lots of school-age kids were accompanying their parents since this was Easter vacation time and they wanted to get in some warm weather hiking before heading back to the colder parts of the country.
Yep, it was a nice day at the trailhead, busier than I thought it would be, but spring has sprung, the flowers are blooming and the desert is coming back to life in great fashion. |
|
Wildflowers Observation Substantial
The desert is alive with the sights and smells of blooming flowers. |
|
| _____________________
| 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. |
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
