Black Mesa Loop – a sample of the interior

Posted on January 7, 2012 by oldslowhans

My first hike of 2012, yesterday (Jan 6) we did the Black Mesa Loop route, a distance of just over 9 miles.

This isn’t what you’d term an easy hike (because of the length) but there are no serious physical challenges, and the trail is easy to follow.  Total ascent is around 1,100 feet, well spaced over the length of the trail, and no particularly steep upgrades.  (A shorter “in and out” route is also possible — see below.)

I like this hike because it quickly takes you into the rugged interior of the Superstitions with views of a wide variety of features and landmarks.

The loop consists of a combination of stretches of 3 different trails.  Leave First Water trailhead on the Dutchman trail (104) for a few hundred yards to the junction of Secondwater trail (236).  From there take Secondwater up into Garden Valley to the Indian ruins.  There you’ll head south on Black Mesa trail (241) over the top of Black Mesa, eventually descending into Boulder Basin.  (The accepted turn-around point for the shorter “in and out” route is the cholla forest at the top of Black Mesa.  The large circle of rocks arranged astride the trail is a good reference point for the turn-around.)

The descent into Boulder Basin is moderately steep, so most will like to have a hiking staff for the extra assurance of footing.  At the bottom of this slope is a nice shady creek bed for your lunch stop, and coincidentally the approximate half-way point in the hike.

Just beyond the creek on the floor of Boulder Basin you again intersect with Dutchman Trail.  Take a right and follow it over Parker Pass back to First Water trailhead.

The most compelling feature of this hike are the numerous different viewing angles you get of Weavers Needle.  A few are shown below.

You cactus watchers know that not all saguaros are pretty, but they certainly are all photogenic.  Below are a few which seem to reflect the harsh character of these storied mountains and the difficulty of survival.  Enjoy!

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We Found the Lost Gold Mine…….

Posted on December 16, 2011 by oldslowhans

……but the gubbermint wouldn’t allow us to enter.

Today we hiked the route from the Hieroglyphics trailhead across the southern base of the western superstitions over to the Lost Gold Mine trailhead near the mouth of Peralta canyon.  This is a pretty easy hike, about 6 miles, which skirts the low reaches of the talus slope and gives continuous great views of the ramparts guarding places like “5057” and Carney Springs.

This is prime cactus country as the saguaro and their stubby cousin, the barrel cactus, thrive on south facing slopes where they bask in the sun and capture moisture in the drainage from the heights above.

The trio of saguaros below is probably less than 20 years old.  Rule of thumb is that they will form their first arm at somewhere between 50 and 70 years old.

Based on that rule, I have no idea how old this fellow must be!

One of the curiosities of this hike is the unusual appearance (texture) of the cliffs near the approaches to Peralta Canyon.  The rock has a foamy or bubbly appearance, riddled with holes, similar to the texture you’d see if you sliced into a loaf of Grandmas’ home-made bread.  One of our educated hikers once told me that this is a trademark of certain volcanic regions called a “resurgent caldera”.  The bubbles are the result of gases and steam trapped in the lava as it gells and solidifies.

Darn it though, I wish we could have gathered some gold at that mine.  Damned gubbermint rules, anyhow!

 

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Picket Post Mountain, or ……

Posted on December 9, 2011 by oldslowhans

.…what some people won’t do to save a dollar!

For you “back home folks” who are reading this, Picketpost Mountain is a photogenic formation, which towers about 2,000 feet above the desert west of Superior like a natural fortress, its distinctive, slightly saddle-shaped peak visible for miles. Originally called Tordillo Mountain, the peak was renamed in the 1870s after the Army established the Picket Post camp nearby. For a time, the Army operated a heliograph station on the mountain, using mirrors to signal other outposts.

Last week, about the time this trip was put on our agenda, our fearless leader announced that he (Joe) and his lovely spouse Dianne were hosting a steak cookout after the hike, cost $6.00 per person.  “And oh, by the way the cost is reduced to $5.00 to those who summit Picket Post.”  What a crowd he drew!  Fifteen souls left the trailhead in nice cool (40’s) hiking weather.

Now, before you get your hopes up, you should know that I won’t post any panoramic views from the top, as my dinner will cost $6.00.

But nonetheless, this is an awesome experience.

In the low going, we saw evidence of last summers fires which roared through here.

Higher on the mountain the vegetation returns to normal, and views in every direction get better and better.

But the forward view starts to look like “Do we have to climb THAT!”

A conference is convened…..

And it is decided that …….

…..we need to head up that way.

Well, I’m not the bouldering type, so at 1,400 feet or so I got a couple shots at my departing comrades…..

…. the surrounding scenery, and I headed back down in company of Eugene and Nicole.

When is the next trip?

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Peralta Canyon to Fremont Saddle

Posted on November 25, 2011 by oldslowhans

Today (Nov 25th, 2011) the club hiked the Peralta trail up to Fremont Saddle.  This is one of my favorite hikes, and today we added a little “extra” at the top.

This is a pretty strenuous hike, with over 1,400 feet of accumulated elevation gain over a 2.5 mile trip in to the summit.  But with lots of vegetation to break the sun, and great panoramic views, it doesn’t punish you like some other similar treks.

Early morning weather wasn’t promising, with an overnight rain and low clouds blanketing most of the western Superstitions.  But not to worry, the trail was dry and the ascent through the clouds turned this into a memorable hike, one the most enjoyable trips I’ve made up this route.

We started with clouds above us, and over the course of the climb went up through the cloud layer, breaking into sunshine above and clouds below.  Pretty awesome!

 

The “payoff” for this hike is the always spectacular signature sight of the Supes, the awesome Weavers Needle formation.  This trip was doubly rewarding.  First, for the great interplay between sun, shadow, and low clouds.

 

Secondly, because we added another half-mile to the hike by going offtrail out to the “lonesome pine” overlook.  This put the Needle right up front in all it’s splendor.

Another bonus of this off trail scramble was some great views of the deep interior of the Superstitions like this view looking off to the east.  I can hardly wait for the next trip!

 

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>Ballantine Trail

Posted on March 25, 2011 by oldslowhans

>Today, 3/25/11, a small group of us hiked Ballantine Trail.  More correctly we hiked Pine Creek Loop (see description at http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=90 ) interrupted by a jaunt about 2 miles out and 2 miles back on Ballantine Trail (see description at http://hikearizona.com/decoder.php?ZTN=248 ).

When I say small group, we were precisely 3 in number!  Those of you who didn’t go missed one of the nicest hiking days of the season, and a great hike.  See below the entire troup, less yours truly. (Somebody had to take the picture!)

Starting the hike, George took us up the south fork of Pine Creek loop. This route immediately wakes up your legs with about 500 feet of elevation gain in what I’d guess is about a quarter mile.  Good footing and no bouldering, so the climb isn’t bad.  This climb gains you altitude to a ridgetop trail running about a mile with scenic canyons off to each side.  At the end of the ridge you drop into a saddle where you can return to the trailhead by another route, or continue outward on the Ballantine.

Leaving this junction on Ballantine toward Boulder Flat and you’re back in uphill mode, gaining about 1,000 feet over the next two miles (where we turned around).  This stretch of the trail is pure scenery, with a variety of rock types, and interesting structure, including this stone lion guarding the top of a canyon rim.
A fair amount of color at these altitudes, with ubiquitous yellow brittle bush, some very nice globe mallow, and (finally) the hedgehogs are starting to pop.
Quite a few bees working the flowers, including this one on the tallest thistle plant that I’ve ever seen.
Heading back, we took the north fork of Pine Creek loop back to the trailhead.
Thanks, George, for leading a great route.
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>Hiking Arizona

Posted on March 17, 2011 by oldslowhans

>My son Art knows a lot of cool crap about electrical computing machines, and suggested that I post some of my hiking and travel adventures on a blog.  He has a lot of scatterbrained ideas like that, but I’ll humor him.
If this doesn’t work out, complain to him.

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