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| Hiking | 13.86 Miles |
2,466 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.86 Miles | 8 Hrs 20 Mns | | 1.85 mph |
| 2,466 ft AEG | 51 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Jason suggested a visit to Trap Canyon and Brad’s Water. I have hiked right past both of these cool places but have never visited.
Wally and Stephanie joined the trek as well. Jason drove his rig down the lovely FS213. It was in great shape, and it was a smooth ride down to the JF Trailhead from Tortilla TH. Except, of course, for the near impassable rocky crap that seems to get worse with each year. It might be time to hike the extra miles soon, unless Jason is still willing to beat the crap out of his Yoda.
The weather was very nice at the start, but we figured it would heat up a bit as the day went on. We hiked through the cow pasture area and then started up to the saddle (and false saddle too). Looking down from the saddle, Music Mountain and Herman’s Mountain came into view and a still snow covered Four Peaks in the other direction.
We made it to Trap Canyon and Wally showed us some really cool metate stones, many of them. It makes you wonder how life was in this place 500-700 years ago. We made our way to the namesake of the canyon – the trap. And, we decided to turn around at the first real challenging drop down. We didn’t get a unanimous vote to keep going. Such a beautiful area. Some of the largest boulders I’ve seen in any canyon in the Supes, for sure.
We hike back out and started down to the Red Tanks/Hoolie Bacon junction. The trail get’s a little sketchy in this area. We made the turn up to Brad’s Water and found some wonderful catclaw forest. So nice to hike through there. My white long-sleeved shirt magically got a bunch of red polka dots after pushing through the nastiness.
The well/spring was really interesting. Wally said it was mine, and they struck water! Not as full as it has been in the past, I was told, but a lot of water. The little drainage coming down was also running. It was the most water I’ve seen in the Supes in a while. Wally then said there was a cabin further up. I never knew that was there. Very interesting for sure. A concrete foundation and mortared rock walls. At some point, this cabin had been a sturdy structure.
After a quick visit, we made our way across the catclaw patch and had a little lunch at the only tree along the Red Tanks Trail (that wasn’t burnt up). Off we went back up the Hoolie-Bacon Trail. A bit of a trudge going up and down, but we made it up to the saddle and then started back down towards the trailhead.
A nice day in the Superstitions. It’s always a pleasure to hike with Wally and Jason and it was nice to meet you, Stephanie! |
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"Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul."
instagram: @andydilling |
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