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| Hiking | 6.12 Miles |
660 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.12 Miles | 5 Hrs 4 Mns | | 1.50 mph |
| 660 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
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| no partners | | My Birthday Present to Doug
My brother's birthday is February 3rd and today he would have been 71 years old. We only hiked the Superstitions for a couple of short years before he got sick with cancer but he dearly loved these rugged mountains as well as the history and stories that went along with them. Doug died last summer and I made a promise to him that, for long as I am able to do it, I will take him for one more hike in the Superstitions.
One of his favorite places was Garden Valley with its lush foliage, extreme views out across First Water Creek and the history surrounding the early inhabitants of this mystic garden oasis. We made this hike several times and on each hike we explored a little more and found a little more, just enough to peak our interest and make us keep coming back for more.
Once a year on his Birthday, I'm going to take Doug along, in my memories of course, for one more hike to Garden Valley and do a little more exploring to see what I can find. Today, I found a beautiful sunrise, not an extraordinary one but fitting none the less and along with the sunrise was a companion Sun Dog glowing radiantly above a peak along Black Mesa Trail....Could it be a message from Doug????
I sat on a large flat boulder overlooking the valley and had a snack while recalling the conversations that we shared while sitting on this same rock. The arch high above us, Weavers Needle behind us and the old tin-covered corral on the far side of the valley sitting alongside First Water Creek. Everything's still in its place......only Doug is missing 
I did a little exploring again and, sure, there's always something that hasn't been discovered before so I logged these in my memories along with all the rest of the discoveries we made together. My hike continued, as promised, down the trail alongside Hackberry Mesa leading into First Water Canyon where I entered the second oasis that runs along the creek. Overnight camping spots with soft grass and shade trees dot the area but it's only Doug and myself on the trails at this time.
Past Hackberry Spring and through the boulder strewn creek bed in the narrow canyon until finally we arrive at the old tin covered corral where we once again scale the access road up, leaving the magic of this valley behind us. When I arrive at the First Water Trailhead, its unload the backpack, camera, GPS and stash everything in its place. Then, like we always did, lower the tailgate, grab a bag of salted in the shell p-nuts and wash them down with a cold beer that was waiting for us.
The log book at the trailhead has, no sign-out time or date entered because this hike isn't finished. |
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Hackberry Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Only a small stream of water coming out of the pipe. | | _____________________
| 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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