| |
|
| | |
|
| Backpack | 14.20 Miles |
3,200 AEG |
| | Backpack | 14.20 Miles | 1 Day 4 Hrs 30 Mns | | |
| 3,200 ft AEG | | 45 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | My birthday backpacking trip had been in the works for a good month, except I had a difficult time settling on the destination. I had made my own hammock, and wanted to try it out as a camping shelter, but would be traveling with ground sleepers so that was a complicating factor. I really wanted to hit Reavis Falls, but with forecast lows potentially in the 20s about a week prior, I was looking seriously at a simple trip to Pinon Camp along Peralta, especially with my friend Adrian bringing his son and planning to just dayhike in and out on Saturday. However, I wasn't looking forward to hiking the busy Peralta Trail, and it just seemed to leave something to be desired.
When Adrian called the night before and said that his son was bailing, and that he would be staying the night. Almost immediately I started changing the destination to Reavis Falls, and confirmed the change after talking to Dustin, who was in favor of a "challenge", and after seeing the updated forecast of a low in the mid-30s and 10% chance of rain.
Dustin, Adrian, Gil and I hit the Reavis Trailhead at about 9:30 after a good two and half hours worth of driving and a stop at Burger King in Mesa to get breakfast. The weather was perfect: sunny but mild. We made good time up 109 to the Reavis Falls turnoff, taking only a couple short breaks only having only minimal wet and muddy spots on the trail. A couple drainages had trickles of water, a good sign for the falls. Although the trailside vegetation was sparse, views to the south and west were superb for the length we were on the Reavis Trail. Snow was visible on the north face of Castle Dome, and all the north facing slopes down to nearly 3500 feet!
The small slog up the ridge on the falls spur trail was muddy and caked the boots pretty good, but was over quick. Views of Two Bar Ridge were enjoyed as we started descending. Tents were pitched in trailside campsites under the junipers, apparently belonging to HAZ member pace, who we would pass with his party down farther, although I knew not who he was.
The trail turned steep, rocky, and rough, and wore down quickly on Gil and Adrian. We took a rest at Lime Mountain, and then continued down. We reached Cedar Basin to the sights and sounds of a flowing creek, which I mistook for Reavis Creek ](https://hikearizona.com/dex2/images/smilies/eusa_wall.gif "Brick wall") . Gil and Adrian rested while Dustin and I searched upstream for an appropriate campsite. We traveled about a quarter mile before reaching a point where we could not go further without getting very, very wet. My GPS track I downloaded from HAZ was climbed uphill above us, so I figured that the route to Reavis Falls bypassed part of the creek. We returned to Gil and Adrian with no good campsite, and Adrian said that there might be something downstream as he had looked a bit down that way. Dustin and I soon noticed the trail crossing the creek and heading up the hill, and at that instant I realized my mistake! We ate lunch and then continued the final uphill trek over to the real Reavis Creek.
As soon as reaching Reavis, Dustin and I threw down our packs and started the campsite search again. We went upstream a few dozen yards, and then headed uphill into the brush across the creek. I notice a trail nearby, so we jumped on it and soon came to the perfect campsite. Lots of flat space with green grass, trees for my hammock, and a firepit right in the middle. We went back to the creek, grabbed our packs, and lead Gil and Adrian to our little paradise.
Gil immediately threw his sleeping pad out on the grass and lied down for a nap. Dustin and Adrian helped each other pitched their tents, while I weighed my hammock options. Once I found the right trees, I got my hammock up pretty quick and lounged in it while Dustin and Adrian finished their shelter setup. After a very relaxing and comfortable rest in my hammock, I fetched some water from the creek and let the gravity filter do its work. We lounged around a while longer before deciding to start the trek to the falls. Gil opted to continue his nap while the rest of us left.
The trail quickly turns into a rough but cairned route of rock-hopping, boulder-climbing, and bush-whacking. After a couple hundred yards of this, Adrian said it was too much for him and decided to head back to camp. Dustin and I pressed on, and soon ran into a couple headed downstream, apparently dayhiking. We exchanged pleasantries for a couple moments and then continued. Reavis Creek is absolutely gorgeous through here, with lots of neat cascades and adjacent rock ledges. I would have been stopping constantly for photos if I didn't know what was ahead. I wished for an extra day to fully explore and enjoy the creek.
As I focused on the ground level, route finding and looking at the nearby creek eye-candy, Dustin says, "Jake! Look up there!" while pointing to the high cliff ahead of us. Downstream a few hundred yards, between the cottonwood trees we can see that water is tumbling down two sweeping cascades before dropping off a cliff face towering over a hundred feet above us! My reaction went something like: "Pumpkin! Holy pumpkin! You've gotta be kidding me! Pumpkin!" It would continue like that until we reached the falls.
Due to how the falls are set up, it is difficult to get a really great shot of the falls (as I expected due to viewing previous photosets). There just isn't much to really get a sense of scale since you have to be pretty much right up next to it to get the pool at the bottom in frame. I worked my angles, but really made sure to enjoy myself too, because I knew this was a spot that is infinitely better in person than in photo form.
Dustin and I spent about 45 minutes at the falls, and then decided to head back as we had a good 45 minute hike back to camp, the sun was about to go down, and the other two would like want to eat dinner soon.
We returned to camp to find Gil and Adrian nursing a camp fire. Gil said that the coals were ready for cooking, so we soon heated up the homemade refried beans, and then skewered some raw carne asada beef onto some sticks and had ourselves a feast.
After dinner, with the forecasted 10% chance of rain stuck in the back of my head, I began working on pitching my tarp over my hammock. Everyone else scoffed at the rain forecast, with clear skies overhead. It took awhile for me to figure out the knots in the dark, but I finally got the tarp pitched, and awhile later everyone headed to bed. Adrian and Dustin retired to their tents, rainflys attached, while Gil layed out in the open in his sleeping bag, using his tarp as a groundcover.
I was awakened from blissful hammock sleep by the wind howling. One of the corners of my tent had come undone from its stake, so I got up to fix it, then climb back into bed. The wind continued, and both corners on the windward side of the tent broke free, and half the tarp blew over my head. Forced to get up again, I looked up at the sky, knowing that wind often foreshadows rain at the beginning of a storm. I could see no stars, it was cloudy.
I began examining my knots on my tarp guylines, and realized that the tautline hitch knots I had tied were coming loose in the wind, which was why my corners were breaking free. I secured the guylines again, this time using the standard two half hitch knots, and made sure everything was solid before going back to bed. I had a feeling we were about to see some precipitation.
I dozed for awhile and was awakened again. The wind had died down, but now drops of rain were making pleasant rhythms on my tarp. I knew Gil would soon be up, looking for shelter from the rain. A few minutes later, I heard him unzip his sleeping bag, and start rustling with his belongings. Adrian asked him if he was okay, and he said that he was. Gil then said, "It's snowing out here." I could see out the end of my tarp that he was right. The rain was changing to snow, but the ground was too warm for it to stick. He then said that he was going to come under my tarp, and placed his sleeping gear under the foot of my hammock. Before lying down again, his final remarks were, "As soon as we see the sun, let's get out of here. This is too much."
I slept on and off until it got light outside, but Gil was underneath the hammock still, snoring, so I stayed put. I could see that Adrian had arisen, and waited patiently for Gil to get up, which wouldn't be until 8 or so.
Once we were all up, Gil and Adrian didn't seem to be in highest spirits, each apparently unimpressed with the minor storm we weathered. Adrian was ready to hike out without breakfast. Gil convinced him otherwise, and we leisurely prepared for the hike out.
The hike out went smoothly, with Dustin and I leading the way up front. The wind was more wicked than the day before, so the steep ascent out of Reavis Creek varied from cool to cold. By the time we crested the ridge, I had finally donned long sleaves, a beanie and gloves. With smooth and slightly downhill trail ahead for 3.5 miles, I maintained a blistering pace, which I expected no one else to follow. I arrived at the car about 15 minutes ahead of the group, so they weren't too much slower.
Although it was a bumpy ride for Adrian and Gil, it was a successful trip. Reavis Falls was better than I expected, and my expectations were pretty high. Overall, I found the entire hike pretty enjoyable all around, and I know Dustin had a great time. The other two might have been pushed a bit beyond their comfort level, which is good to know for the future as I want these guys to have a good time when they come with me. I think if I do another Reavis Falls trip, I might consider a two night trip, as I would really like to enjoy Reavis Creek, and the falls themselves, at a more leisurely and intimate pace. I will say that Reavis Falls is definitely the best Superstitions hike that I have done so far! |
|
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
|
|
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
