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| Canyoneering | 11.40 Miles |
3,540 AEG |
| | Canyoneering | 11.40 Miles | 7 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.52 mph |
| 3,540 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | | I headed in from First Water Trailhead at 10:40 AM Sunday morning. It was overcast and chilly outside with rain forecasted, which usually makes for great days in the Superstitions. I hopped on Second Water Trail and hit Boulder Canyon by about noon. From that point until arriving at the Box was new territory for me (with the exception of a disasterous night adventure almost exactly a year ago). I turned right and headed south on trail 103. Boulder Canyon Trail isn't too easy to stay on as it seems several of the cairns at creek crossings have gotten washed away recently, so going was rather slow. After passing Battleship Mountain I located the pass to go over to get to LaBarge Creek. Not finding any sort of path, I chose a route just south of the steep ravine that heads up to the saddle and bushwhacked up that, going very slowly over the slippery rocks due to the fact that I was alone. At the saddle I spotted a cairned trail, so I followed that as it plunged steeply down to LaBarge Creek and delivered me directly into the mouth of the Box. By the time I arrived it was raining pretty steadily and I had already wrapped up my camera bag in my rain jacket, leaving me soaking wet. The canyon was just as amazing as I remembered it when I visited last year. The water was running really strong. My intent was to take a bunch of photos, but the rain wouldn't cease. I made a couple of attempts, but my efforts to keep everything dry just resulted in a foggy lens and blurry shots. Finally I gave up because of being cold and wet and frustrated with rain (who would have expected an accurate forecast), and packed up and headed out and back up the saddle. I managed to follow the cairned trail (building additional cairns where it got confusing) up and over back down to Boulder Canyon. I was pleased with such a nice path over the saddle. The return trip on 103 was a bit easier to follow coming back. By the time I reached Garden Valley it was getting dark, and I pulled out the headlamp not long after passing the Black Mesa Junction. Everything was probably much darker because of the storm clouds. I got back to the trailhead at 6:30 PM. A great hike and good way to end my winter break, I think I may return next weekend and try my luck at pictures again. |
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"Arizona is the land of contrast... You can go from Minnesota to California in a matter of minutes, then have Mexican food that night." -Jack Dykinga
http://www.joelhazelton.com |
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