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| Hiking | 6.25 Miles |
2,900 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.25 Miles | 4 Hrs 50 Mns | | 1.44 mph |
| 2,900 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I've had the Flatiron in my sights all year.....literally. I live within sight of that imposing rock formation and view it from my home so it's imprinted within the folds of my mind. I hiked up there one other time back in January of 2012 with Randy (RWStorm) as my guide but, because of my arthritic knees, I was unable to continue on up to 5024.
Randy and I were going to make the trip again this year, only this time 5024 was a "must do". The year was getting late, the weather getting warm and Randy has been quite busy so If I was going to get-er-done, I had to do it NOW. I don't like hiking on weekends but the forecast was only for warmer weather so this would be my best time for the arduous journey.
I parked my truck at the already filling up, Mining Camp around 0630 and by 0645 was on the trail. Holy Crap!  Where did all these people come from? Don't they know they should be sleeping yet? Oh Well, I set a moderate pace and was passed by all those young kids noisily running up the trails, jumping over the water barriers and dropping plastic water bottles as they went (all of that energy and exuberance is so wasted on the young) ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall")
As I arrived at the basin, my knees were feeling good and my energy level was still good so I plodded up the expanse of "slick rock" into the steep climbing portions of the trail. It was easy to see how hikers(?) can get off the main trail as one group passes another non-yielding group..... They were everywhere on the side of that mountain 
My slow pace was paying off as I was now passing some of those who so easily dusted me off earlier and I was continuing to poke and pull my way up the rock strewn wash. With the end in sight, I met Rick Vincent (Rick Vincent) and friends on their way down. I was not entirely surprised to run into him on Siphon Draw since he frequents it often. Good to see ya again Rick.
Once at the "Wall", a group of hikers procrastinated about which route to take when a lone girl just grabbed rocks and toe holds and shinnied on up the middle  so I grabbed the tree branches along the left side and pulled myself up one step at a time until I could once again stand erect......at the top of Siphon Draw Trail 
I walked out onto the Flatiron, removed my gear and sat on a flat rock that was overlooking Gold Canyon, Silly Mountain and Apache Junction so far below. When I left home, I had only told my wife that I was going up Siphon Draw, not mentioning going to the Flatiron, so I dialed her up on the phone and gave her a call to let her know where I was....glad she understood. I had a snack and while sitting there, I took inventory of my physical self, as I looked across the saddle up to 5024. I still felt pretty good but my legs and knees were getting rubbery and I had all the impact of the down-climb ahead of me so, once again, I turned down the option and allure of 5024 
As I slowly worked my way down the rock walls and boulders, I was glad that I had passed on the 5024.... I did not want to be a casualty of Siphon Draw  and, who knows, maybe next year I'll try it again I finished my hike around 11:30, called my wife to tell her I was safely down and went to the Bluebird to enjoy a cold brew.
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Wildflowers Observation Substantial
The air along the lower portions of the trail is fresh with the smells of Brittlebush. |
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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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Route Editor
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