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| Hiking | 10.30 Miles |
790 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.30 Miles | 5 Hrs 30 Mns | | 2.29 mph |
| 790 ft AEG | 1 Hour Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Caballo Camp in Boulder Basin
We're supposed to have a rainy weekend in the Valley so this seemed like a good time to get out and hike the Superstitions while the weather was still in my favor. With the fronts moving in, I thought I would have good cloud cover and I like the Boulder Basin's scenery, especially if there's some dramatic clouds.
As I was driving in on the First Water Road, there was a strong cloud bank to the North but clearing to the South...... So the race was on. I quickly parked my truck, got geared up, signed in and was on the trail by 0615 I guessed that I better get out to the Basin before the clouds disappeared completely, so I put it in JJ Mode  At Parker Pass, I checked my time and it was one hour on the dot so I kept up the pace heading down into the Basin Area.
I met a lone backpacker who was heading in and we had a short conversation then I'm off again. Had to stop and take a couple shots of Weavers Needle as the clouds were thinning out  and my hopes of some intense clouds were thinning too. I checked my time as I arrived at the campsite below Aylor's Arch and I made it in 1-hr, 59-min  but the clouds were almost completely gone by now 
I took a snack break on the large Quartz boulders in the camp area, waiting (hoping) for a passing cloud but the sun was by now rising above the cliffs of Black Top Mesa and Aylor's Arch was all lit up. I hiked around the area for a while, listening to the sounds of running water in East Boulder Canyon and took some photos of the Crested Saguaro below the shaded cliffs of Black Top Mesa.
Guess I'm not going to get the clouds I had hoped for so I began a slower pace back to the Trailhead. Along the way I paused for some more shots and had the thrill of meeting a Gila Monster slowly crossing the Dutchman's Trail. I watched it for a time and made sure that it was safely off the trail before continuing on. I made it to the Trailhead a little past noon, changed shoes, signed out and headed to the Bluebird for a cold brew.
So I missed my cloudy day, but that only means that I'm going to have to try again..... Ain't no such thing as a bad day in the Superstitions |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Lots of early stage flowers around, they need a little more time yet. |
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East Boulder Canyon |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | The sounds of flowing water can be heard all along the creek. |
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O'Grady Canyon |
Light flow |
Light flow |
| | | A light but steady flow in the creek. | | _____________________
| 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
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