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Ive wanted to hike into Powers Garden my entire life- ok, for a few years at least. I would like to head up Friday afternoon and camp near the trailhead, then Saturday we take the Corral Canyon trail about 10 miles to Powers Garden. We will hike past Kennedy Saddle and a running spring. The fun begins when we hike 1-1.5 miles through Rattlesnake Canyon. There is a trail in Rattlesnake, but the yearly flash floods make it hard to find and it may be best just to stay in the creekbed. (think: fish creek)
Lets camp near the Power's cabin- if we can make it that far. There is a spring in the drainage just up canyon from the Garden proper. My source (thanks, Letty) says it may be drier in October but there are pools and small springs to be found along the way. By that record, Im going to take a safe route and carry a few quarts at a time.

This hike will complete the loop by taking the Tortilla Trail on Sunday will have us dropping into Sycamore Canyon. There are a couple of springs on the way. Return to the valley Sunday evening.

this hike is not for the timid, it has moderate route finding and off-trail skills needed to reach Powers Cabin. There is substantial elevation gains on both days. See the Powers Cabin hike and the Powers Garden hike for details. Get in on this one, its like the Reavis Ranch of the south but with less people, better scenery. and more wildlife, im sure.

I'm probably going to be out a little later than that, but I'd join you if I could. You're gonna love it. Be sure to catch the various mining artifacts between the Garden and the cabin.

I've had this on the "TO DO" list as well. I have a logistics issue - Gordon Lightfood concert tickets for Dodge Theatre that Friday evening. Need to discuss with some of my hiking buds about an early Saturday morning trek to the TH. BTW - what is the drive time from Phoenix to the TH? And would any sane person attempt driving to it in the dark?

Randal Schulhauser wrote:And would any sane person attempt driving to it in the dark?

I drove to the Deer Creek TH in the dark. The road isn't any better in daylight.

I would like to go, I will see if I can manage to work it out between work and school. What time would we be leaving Friday? I get off school at 1250 and probably couldnt leave until between 230 and 330 at the earliest.

Are the springs we'd be hiking past reliable?

i am able to leave my place on Friday at or around noon- due to having a 1/2 day at work. But, there is little reason to rush off and get there before dark, since once I leave my place im officially free for the weekend and the word "hurry" is no longer applicable. Leave that word for the jetboil crowd.
The departure time is being left up to our driver, who will prolly agree that a 3-4pm departure is best for everyone's schedule. We are leaving from the Deer Creek t/h which seems to be the easiest way to reach the Galiuros. I suspect about a 3 hour drive from Mesa.

Ok Im going to work this into my schedule. Im committing.

Oh man, I want to go sooooooo badly. Have family plans in Prescott that weekend, I'll see if we can bump them up a weekend

If my Utah plans fall thru I'll probably join in on this---I'll let ya'll know as soon as I know. October is too far in the future for me. ;)

RedRoxx44 wrote:If my Utah plans fall thru I'll probably join in on this---I'll let ya'll know as soon as I know. October is too far in the future for me. ;)

Can you remind me of the authors and titles of the books you left there? I stupidly tried to read them both in one day and only got about halfway through each. I subsequently paid a ridiculous price for one written by Tom Power, but I suspect it may be biased.

DANG IT, this is on the list of places to visit before I go to Italy. I think that weekend is already taken on my calendar though. If something changes I'm there.

Shoot out at Dawn is the one by Tom Power, the Evaders is the one by the son of one of the slain law enforcement officers. That book is no longer at the cabin. Is out of print; but could also be obtained for some obscene price probably on Ebay.
I got my Shoot out at Dawn copies when the Klondyke store was open for I think 14.99

RedRoxx44 wrote:the Evaders is the one by the son of one of the slain law enforcement officers. That book is no longer at the cabin. ... I got my Shoot out at Dawn copies when the Klondyke store was open for I think 14.99

Thanks, "The Evaders" is the one I was looking for. Too bad it's gone, but I might try Ebay. I paid almost three times that much for "Shootout at Dawn". I was disappointed to find the Klondyke store closed, I think I missed it by two or three months. Access to the Klondyke cemetary also semed to be blocked, but I can't say that I tried too hard. I was a little uncomfortable with way folks were eyeballing me and felt like I got out of town about two minutes ahead of some free advice.

the "Queen of the Walkabout" might join us on this hike? that would be a blessing. Tim, you should also try to make it. ;)

te-wa wrote:once I leave my place im officially free for the weekend and the word "hurry" is no longer applicable. Leave that word for the jetboil crowd.

I have seen you hike. "Hurry" is definitely applicable. I can't even stay close enough to eat your dust.

I'm in; you need someone to bring up the rear. I have been wanting to do this for awhile also. This time, I'll not only bring my GPS, I'll actually look at it.

There is another book, "The Tragedy of The Power's Mine" by Elizabeth Lambert Wood, 1957. She visited the site in 1939 with Jay Murdock, who was at his mine about a mile south (Long Tom?) when the gun battle happened. This book gives more information about the family, and more personal information about the shooting and the escape.

Wish I could join this adventure.

Thanks, I'll keep an eye out for that one too. (I see one for $75 on Amazon)

desert tarheel wrote:I have seen you hike. "Hurry" is definitely applicable.

well, Steve, Ive been quite lazy for the past several months now, doing small easy hikes that are at or under 2 miles. The past 3-4 hikes have been this way, with the exception of Kendrick Peak, and that one was fairly easy too- except I had to carry 7 liters of water. Good to have you join us, there is certainly a special, or magical if you will, feeling about the place. (or so I hear)

Just to clarify, the Power's Mine and Power's Garden are two different places. The gun fight happened at the Mine, a few miles south of the Garden.

te-wa wrote:I suspect about a 3 hour drive from Mesa.

I would think more like 4.5 hours.