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| Pinal (the former city) - Superior, AZ | | -
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| | Pinal (the former city) - Superior, AZ | | | |
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Pinal (the former city) - Superior, AZ
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| Hiking | 3.03 Miles |
238 AEG |
| | Hiking | 3.03 Miles | 1 Hour 56 Mns | | 1.57 mph |
| 238 ft AEG | | | | |
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| partners | | This was the 2nd part of our LOST Eco Festival Day. After lunch we listened to a great presentation of the geology of Superior and surrounding area. I figure if I hear this stuff enough times, it will sink in ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") . I found it very informative. We also got to hear and see a slide presentation about Pinal (formerly Pickepost). I had done some preliminary Rx on the town but didn't find much so this slideshow filled in the "rest of the story". If you decide to take this hike here is an interpretive brochure: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5269665.pdf.
We met at the Superior airport and headed south. You get nice views of Apache Leap of course. As you continue you also get views of the pearlite quarry and a nice ranch with a green belt alongside Queen Creek. Our guide Scott missed a turn and we ended up on a high spot which had great views of the area. He decided he might even re-route the trail this way. This particular trail is barely two years old and mostly follows a road.
We went a bit cross-country to get back to the trail. You walk thru a couple cottonwood treed areas before hitting main street into Pinal. It's hard to believe the area you are standing in is where all the tailings sat; right in the middle of town it seemed. From there we went up on Mill Hill. You can see various, altho small, remnants of the mill. The mill was huge! Next we wandered over to the commercial district and Scott pointed out the various businesses that were shown on the slide presentation. All I can say is I'm glad we saw the presentation FIRST and it brings an otherwise empty space, but for a few pieces of foundation, to life.
While you are also up on this north part of town, you can see the hills where the adobe homes and such melded into the landscape. In other words, what should be flat desert landscape has these rolly little mounds scattered about. As you walk on the road out of Pinal, you will note a couple times some foundations that are barely showing thru the road.
It was a lovely afternoon for this hike and you can do a lot more exploring in the area; especially toward the hills to the left of Picketpost. The Forest Service has done a nice job of cleaning up the area that they said was quite trashy; especially below the cottonwoods. If you are interested in this former town, you for sure want to check out my photos here on HAZ. I also put together a slideshow/movie presentation showing the area back then and now.
Hike to Pinal - http://youtu.be/uf23aOpgZ9Q?hd=1
Pinal including slides of former Pinal - http://youtu.be/SjEgm7E4lfM?hd=1
Thx again to Sirena to posting the Eco LOST (Legends of Superior Trails) Festival and thx John for inviting me. It was well worth it!  |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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