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| Hiking | 6.74 Miles |
1,375 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.74 Miles | 6 Hrs 15 Mns | | 1.28 mph |
| 1,375 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Just another potential Massacre Grounds Loop.. While working the First Water TH as a Forest Service Volunteer, I'm often asked about the Massacre Grounds Trailhead, which is now non-existent. I tell them that they can drive back to the Crosscut TH and begin their hike on the new trail that connects with the old one at the original TH adding about two miles to the trek.
"Can we do it from here?" Well, yes, but it's not a very friendly trail with lots of brush and few trails to follow. So I decided to check out the possibilities. I have looked at the route many times on the TOPO maps so it shouldn't be all that bad 
My route took me down the Dutchman Trail to the first unnamed creek crossing. This flowage is actually from Massacre Falls and other drainages around the Massacre Grounds. The creek was still flowing intermittently thanks to the rains of last weekend but was easy to get around the wet spots.
The canyon itself is narrow and the sides steep enough that trails don't exist and you must follow the creek bed, rock hopping as you go but after a while it gets pretty old stumbling from rock to rock. Finally the canyon opens up and you are presented with a view of the "Wall" alongside the Massacre Grounds ahead and behind is a great view of Four Peaks.
The Catsclaw was everywhere and I paid my dues in fresh blood to be able to continue on. Before long I was able to get out of the wash and leave the thick brush behind and I challenged a large rock outcropping to gain elevation and see what was around. Cool views from my high perch and I saw a cliff face to the East of the Massacre "Wall". The cliff was at the head of a deep draninage and below the steep approach to the mountain and there was a strip of green brush along a "shelf" mid-cliff.
As I approached the cliff looking for a way to get to the shelf, I could barely make out an alcove at the far end of the shelf. I couldn't tell if it was natural or part of an old ruin but it looked worth a closer look-see  Couldn't find any trails leading up, so it was just me and the scree  The recent rains made every step a treacherous slipping experience so it was climb-slip-grab for something to keep from going back down.
I made it to the base of the cliff where the brush was growing and was able to squeeze through until I reached the end of the trail. "Cliff-Out" but I could see the alcove now and tell that it didn't amount to much, surely not a habitable cave and what had looked like a stone wall was just a natural part of the cliff 
Got some photos from the shelf then came the getting back down part of the exploration. Not a pretty sight but I made it back to some solid hiking ground and headed back down towards the Massacre flowage. I had my fill of Catsclaw so I opted for a route that would (should) take me back to the upper First Water Creek. I headed uphill for a saddle not too far away and as I broke over the top, I could see that I was in the drainage for First Water Creek.
The storm from this past September has taken out a lot of the trails so it was back to the rock hopping until I finally reached the Dutchmans Trail once again. A quick hike back to the TH and get rid of the pack and gear then the usual cool one with peanuts as I stowed everything in the truck.
There could be possibilities for this loop, but there's a lot of brush to contend with and the stream bed don't make for a good trail. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
Found some trees in color. |
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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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