Old West Boulder Canyon Ridge • Hike • Arizona • All Triplogs • HikeArizona.COM

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Dec 27 2023
		pseudalpine • Triplogs 1,290

Hiking	12.01 Miles	2,904 AEG

Hiking	12.01 Miles	5 Hrs 56 Mns	2.14 mph
	2,904 ft AEG	20 Mns Break

Linked

linked

First Water Creek at Second Water Trail #236

Parker Pass

Old West Boulder Canyon

West Boulder Canyon

Partners

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no partners

Route Recorded on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX

Fauna

Fauna [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Peregrine Falcon

Geology

Geology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Natural Arch

	First Water Creek - Upper Turnoff	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle
	Skunky!

Dry

O'Grady Canyon

Dry

O'Grady Creek

Dry

	Old West Boulder Canyon	Pools to trickle	Pools to trickle

2 archives

Nov 10 2018

rayhuston

Guides 1
Routes 447
Photos 4,407
Triplogs 938

68 male

Joined Mar 09 2012
Gilbert, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Nov 10 2018
		rayhuston • Triplogs 938

Hiking	11.65 Miles	3,086 AEG

Hiking	11.65 Miles	8 Hrs 33 Mns	1.55 mph
	3,086 ft AEG	1 Hour 3 Mns Break

no routes

Linked

none

no linked trail guides

Partners

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no partners

The inspiration for this hike was a chance meeting with Joe and The Eagle on the Superstition mountain ridge line a little under five years ago. They were on their "Nightmare in the Superstitions Revisited" hike. I was so impressed with their hike that I've been aching to do some variation of it ever since. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for.

I followed Kanode's route along Dutchman, leaving Dutchman at Parker Pass on the use trail that takes you towards Tim's saddle. When I reached O'Grady canyon, I hung a right and started heading uphill towards Old West Boulder ridge.

The ascent up Old West Boulder Canyon ridge is a bugger, big time. Throw in a scree field near the top when your legs are tired, it becomes treacherous. The views along the way are absolutely amazing. The terrain is big and imposing. If you like a challenge, this will test your skills. I am glad I did it, but fairly certain I won't do it again.

When I reached the ridge line, I planned to follow the Nightmare route the rest of the way. I headed towards the Flatiron, but I was running late on time (I didn't start the hike until 9:15

). Where the trail bends west towards Monument canyon, I turned right and headed up the hill towards the hoodoos where I would drop down to Massacre Falls along a fairly well defined route and then on to the Massacre Falls trail.

The Massacre Falls trail was uneventful. At the Superstitions Wilderness fence I turned right towards the First Water trailhead. The last two miles as the sun was setting was really cool.

My version is not quite a "Nightmare," but it is a tough loop. I can't imagine hiking another 4.5 miles and 2000 feet of AEG. As it was, I was glad when this one was over.

_____________________

May 25 2014

TeamBillyGoat

Routes 27
Photos 189
Triplogs 29

52 male

Joined May 27 2013
Apache Junction,

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		May 25 2014
		TeamBillyGoat • Triplogs 29

Hiking	14.00 Miles	4,650 AEG

Hiking	14.00 Miles	9 Hrs 45 Mns	1.60 mph
	4,650 ft AEG	1 Hour Break

Linked

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no linked trail guides

Partners

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no partners

'Solo Uphill March of Doom' is my title for this one. I actually followed the same route as Mr. Bartels 'Nightmare on Superstition Peak' loop (minus the stop a 5024). Up on the ridgeline, I mistakenly stopped GPS recording, so my track is incomplete. Oh well, someday I will get it straight.

I started at First Water TH, up Dutchman's trail, to O'Grady Canyon, to Old West Boulder Canyon Ridge, up to Superstition Ridgeline, down Siphon Draw, Jacob's Crosscut, to First Water road, back to Trailhead, then home to stuff my face with a well earned pollo asado burrito w/chips & guacamole (& cold beer).

That day was a little on the warm side (low 90's), but not to bad. A thorough calorie burning experience with awesome views. Plus I found a white-tail deer antler.

_____________________

Dec 15 2012

joebartels

Guides 264
Routes 2,797
Photos 14,494
Triplogs 5,894

55 male

Joined Nov 20 1996

Nightmare on Superstition Peak, AZ

Hiking		Dec 15 2012
		joebartels • Triplogs 5,894

Hiking	14.40 Miles	4,820 AEG

Hiking	14.40 Miles	10 Hrs		1.60 mph
	4,820 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	14 LBS Pack

Linked

6 linked trail guides

Flatiron Hike - Superstitions

Siphon Draw Trail #53

Superstition Peak 5024 - Siphon Draw

Jacob's Trail #58

Partners

partners

The_Eagle

Tortoise_Hiker

Is it over yet?

I just verified the PM. Bruce was right. He did say 90% chance of rain, showers, 51 high, wind, gust, pure hell, are you reading this, bad idea alert.

The game plan was a jewel that never happened. It started off fair, had potential and then we hiked into a cloud. That cloud never gave up. It was the little cloud that could. To add to insult the rain probably didn't net a half inch. The presentation was remarkable. Torture to yield was shocking, literally... showers in waves. Wave after wave after you get the idea. When it let up the mist screamed by in awe that we remained standing, laughing and spitting at our ignorance to hike through it's fierce glory.

Time heals all wounds right? Yeah whatever. I rejoice in one thought, it's over. It has to be or I wouldn't be here typing. Well if I close my eyes it hurts. If I open my eyes it hurts. It just hurts. No it's over joe. Who is joe?

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Rainbow

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

- joe

Dec 15 2012

The_Eagle

Guides 41
Routes 1,626
Photos 14,983
Triplogs 2,760

69 male

Joined Jan 20 2009
Far NE Phoenix,

Nightmare on Superstition Peak, AZ

Hiking		Dec 15 2012
		The_Eagle • Triplogs 2,760

Hiking	14.40 Miles	4,820 AEG

Hiking	14.40 Miles	9 Hrs 57 Mns		1.61 mph
	4,820 ft AEG	1 Hour Break	15 LBS Pack

Linked

linked

Flatiron Hike - Superstitions

Superstition Peak 5024 - Siphon Draw

Jacob's Trail #58

Partners

partners

joebartels

Tortoise_Hiker

What the Heck were we thinking?

The plan was to find a place, taking advantage of the recent rains and check out some running water.

I put together a track, starting at the 1st Water TH, including a Reverse Flatiron via Massacre Falls, up to 5024, and then returning on Old West Boulder Canyon to the Dutchman. Joe Joe and Denny Boo Boo both agreed.... Even after I warned them of the impending Saturday weather. Not a single one of us was smart enough to say... Er , ah (Insert Name Here), Don't you think we should try something a bit easier based on the current forecast?

So off we went. We were planning on doing this loop Counter Clockwise, hitting Massacre Falls first....but we missed our turn, and this became a clockwise hike.

Birds are chirping, washes were flowing, and cameras were clicking..... everyone is in a great mood. We started the off trail steep climb up to Old West Boulder Canyon Ridge. Between 3,500' and 4,000', we hit the Cloud Cover/Fog. The next 4 1/2 hours were spent in this cloud.

We missed some of the best views of the hike in this portion of the hike. All of Old West Bolder Canyon Ridge views, Ridge line Views, The Flatiron Views, and 5024 Views.

Buy this time we were all soaked. 25' views, Rain, 45 Mph gusts, steep..wet..slippery rocks...Fog blowing by.

We tried to get down off 5024 towards Massacre Grounds, but with the conditions and the look on Denny's face, we climbed back up and took the safe route down Siphon Draw, Jacob's Crosscut, and a road walk back to 1st Water TH.

Glad that one's over......................
Most miserable-er-est Hike ever.
Just getting warm now.

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Rainbow

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry

Dec 15 2012

Tortoise_Hiker

Guides 1
Routes 148
Photos 9,924
Triplogs 3,652

63 male

Joined Apr 02 2005
Mesa, AZ

Nightmare on Superstition Peak, AZ

Hiking		Dec 15 2012
		Tortoise_Hiker • Triplogs 3,652

Hiking	14.40 Miles	4,820 AEG

Hiking	14.40 Miles	9 Hrs 57 Mns	1.45 mph
	4,820 ft AEG

no routes

Linked

linked

Flatiron Hike - Superstitions

Superstition Peak 5024 - Siphon Draw

Jacob's Trail #58

Partners

partners

joebartels

The_Eagle

Bruce was nice enough to invite me on a stroll in the Supes.It went a lttle different than planned.We made a loop out of it instead.That may or may not have been caused by my disposition :cry:

.Those were rain drops not tears . I thought some of Bruce's routes looked scarey when you could see them

.It is even worse in the fog when you can't see the route.We took the safe route back and I only fell three times :oops:

. Some nice views at first.We saw a couple Whitetail and Joe found an antler. It got cloudy wet and cold from there.We did see a sweet rainbow when we were on the cross-cut.Another wild adventure in the Supes.A safe hike is a great hike.Joe even sang 8-[

for us.I'm starting to warm up now.It was nice to get out on the trail with Bruce and Joe again

.Thanks to Bruce for driving and the beverage. :y:

Meteorology

Meteorology [ checklist ]

[ checklist ] Rainbow

Wildflowers Observation Isolated

_____________________

Tortoise Hiking. Stop and smell the Petrichor.

Feb 21 2008

kanode

Guides 7
Routes 57
Photos 1,107
Triplogs 64

77 male

Joined Jan 07 2004
Tempe, AZ

Phoenix, AZ

Hiking		Feb 21 2008
		kanode • Triplogs 64

Hiking	10.50 Miles	3,300 AEG

Hiking	10.50 Miles	10 Hrs 30 Mns	1.00 mph
	3,300 ft AEG

Linked

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no linked trail guides

Partners

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no partners

It took Chuck and I 10.5 hours but it should be closer to a 9 hour trip if you follow the route that we used coming down the ridge.

We built some cairns near the peaks marking easy routes up and down their edges. Route finding was straightforward--just keep headed uphill. The only nuisance is that you can't see very far ahead to pick the best route.

_____________________

Irv

Jan 13 2008

kanode

Guides 7
Routes 57
Photos 1,107
Triplogs 64

77 male

Joined Jan 07 2004
Tempe, AZ