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| | | Superstitions Superfecta, AZ | | | |
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Superstitions Superfecta, AZ
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| Hiking | 13.72 Miles |
2,771 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.72 Miles | 8 Hrs 28 Mns | | 1.91 mph |
| 2,771 ft AEG | 1 Hour 16 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I have been wanting to try this hike for a while, and today turned out to be the day to do it. I got the idea for this from a hike that @azhiker456 did last fall.
This was basically the Black Mesa Loop with sidetrips to four peaks along the way:
1) Hackberry Mesa
2) Black Mesa 2850
3) Peak 3097
4) Yellow Peak
From the First Water TH, I went to the horse lot, and then took the Hackberry Spring Trail. Once I got close to Hackberry Mesa, I went off-trail up the SW side of the mesa. It was a bit steep in places, but not bad. I enjoyed the views on the mesa, and then descended SE at first and then more south to go through Garden Valley down to the Second Water Trail My descent was easier than the ascent.
Once on the Second Water Trail, I went to the Black Mesa Trail, and took it up to Black Mesa 2850. This is the highest point on topo maps of Black Mesa, but it looks to me like the highpoint of the mesa is on the west side.
I then descended from Black Mesa, and went up to Peak 3097. It was a gentle grade up to Peak 3097, but there was knee high grass (or higher in some places) with ankle busting rocks underneath, so the going was fairly slow. Views were nice atop Peak 3097, and I had a lunch break there.
I descended back to the Black Mesa Trail and then busted up the south slopes of Yellow Peak. This was the most challenging of the four peaks, but it was a fun climb up. I enjoyed the views at the summit, and then went back down to the Black Mesa Trail. From there, I made my way to the Dutchman Trail, which I took back to the First Water TH.
I enjoyed hiking to these peaks -- Black Mesa was my least favorite, and it would be hard to say which of the other 3 that I liked the best.
The hike back on the Dutchman Trail was a bit of a death march, and was my least favorite part of the hike. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
I saw a few fairy dusters, but that was about it. |
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| Civilization is a nice place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
Medium pool and light flow along the trail west of the water marking 
