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| Hiking | 7.11 Miles |
424 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.11 Miles | 3 Hrs 6 Mns | | 2.54 mph |
| 424 ft AEG | 18 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Cousin Jenaya was in town for a few days from Hawaii via Cancun, so we had to get a hike in. This area seeemed to be a centralized location for all the people wanting to hike today. There would be 5 of us and Duke. We met up at the Chevron station on Goldfield Rd and the 60. We were lucky to find some parking at First Water Road.
I think the connector trail from First Water Road is absolutely magnificent desert landscaping and today was no exception. Everything looks fat and healthy; especially the cholla which I think are pretty exceptional in this area. Staying on the right path is a bit of a challenge as you negotiate a couple different washes before finally coming out of the third to the main plateau with signs indicating Jacob's Trail. And per my last hike out here with Tina last February; I couldn't quite remember which way you go, left or right. We chose left and that is correct.
The hike itself has its ups and downs but nothing too dramatic. It has its smooth vs rocky and narrow vs wide sections with changes of topography from mostly brittlebush to trees to saguaros and miscellaneous house-sized boulders scattered here and there. Oh yes, and quite a few people out including horseback riders. Once we crossed over the Siphon Draw Trail it was all new to me. Hiking below this Massif is truly impressive, especially as the HAZy rays glowed down upon and around it. We did get to look up one canyon that seemed to have some interesting rock structure half way up; can't tell from the picture what it was exactly and the canyon just shows as a drainage on the map.
As we hiked we were heard some yelling and looked up to see the Hanggliders, possibly five of them. We had fun watching them and trying to get a few pictures. It just has to be such a hard trek up the mountain for a few minutes of joy. We were hiking along and came across bunches of cholla bulbs that had come off a fallen cholla. And there was a great view up at the southwest side of the Flatiron. I thought that was quite cool  . However, when I asked Jenaya and Deborah to pose for a picture in front of the cholla and the Flatiron above, Duke came too not realizing how many cholla there were, He got chollaed pretty bad  . It took a bit to free him of those spiny things!
We decided to head back as I had set up a lunch date with my brother and his wife. We were near the saguaro section. Arlene was going to wait for us by the big boulder but she had already started back. She is a walker and not a hiker so the rough trail was pretty hard for her; however, she was a real trooper. On the way back (north) I think the view was better and the sun was behind us so it was easier to look up at the Massif.
With about two miles left Jenaya was telling me about the ultimate Mai Tai recipe she has for me to try when I get back to Hawaii. And from there my mind went to the Prickly Pear margarita I would be having shortly so I didn't pay as much attention to the terrain as usual. However, I did yell "Fore" a couple times and took some pics of the greens. We also saw a really large hawk. I have to remember to bring my camera when I'm hiking out here. We walked by the distinct smell of the mistletoe in the palo verdes. The same trees where I noticed the scent when hiking with Tina last February.
We made it back to the vehicles and then went to Mammoth Steakhouse to meet up with my brother and wife for lunch outdoors. They are currently living in their RV park right next door. After a good lunch we walked around so I could go get my fudge fix; they also have some awesome purses. It wasn't too crowded so that was nice. A good day in our Superstitions and fun to hang out.
WATCH 9:27AM-12:33PM, 6.68 miles burning 1087 calories (hello potato skins and prickly pear margarita, 2076-2261 elevation. 121 avg bpm/153 max. Starting temp 56.7 sunny and haze, 44% humidity. |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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