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| Hiking | 5.61 Miles |
877 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.61 Miles | 4 Hrs 50 Mns | | 1.66 mph |
| 877 ft AEG | 1 Hour 27 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Happy Birthday, Doug
Last year on February third, I hiked from First Water Trailhead, through Garden Valley, around Hackberry Mesa down to Hackberry Spring and finished by passing through the old First Water Corral site on my way back to the Trailhead. This was one of Doug’s favorite hikes through the Superstition Mountain Wilderness Area and the hike I promised myself that I would repeat on his birthday on a yearly basis, for as long as I am able.
This year, I was honored to include Doug’s son, Todd and another Nephew, Rob who had flown from their homes in Wisconsin to hike with me on this special day. I signed in on the log as Jack and Doug at a chilly 0800, as the parking lot was slowly filling up with hikers. A usual sun filled, Arizona Blue sky welcomed us as we hit the trail to Garden Valley.
As we hiked the rock strewn trails, I explained some of the features and dangers of the desert as we came upon them, like beware of the Jumping Cholla and watch out for Catsclaw… Rob soon fell victim to a spiny clump of Cholla that stitched his hiking pants to the calf of his leg… It’s a good thing I brought my Leatherman along for just such emergencies. Nope, no blood, Rob, but I could hear Doug giggling out there somewhere.
We paused at the flat rock where Doug and I always took a short break to take in the scenery of the First Water Basin, the old corral and windmill and the extreme color of the Lichen covered mountains along First Water Creek and on into the Goldfield Mountains. I stayed at the flat rock and had my private conversation with my Brother as the boys climbed to the nearby hilltops to gain a better view of the arch.
We pressed on again as we dropped down the trail circling Hackberry Mesa on our way to the lush green valley that follows First Water Creek. There was a small flow in the creek and the sounds of water against rocks always has a magical effect in a desert environment. I smiled to myself as the boys went down to the water’s edge and probed submerged rocks in the remote chance that there might be a rich nugget hidden below it…. Something Doug always believed was there too… Like Father, like Son? Nah! It goes much deeper than that.
Too soon, we were at the old corral site and I told the boys that we were almost finished with our hike. Sore feet and aching muscles suddenly disappeared as we wanted to hang on to this moment, and not lose the connection that bound the four of us together once again. Doug’s presence was with us, unseen, but felt throughout the hike… we miss you Doug, my Brother, Todd’s Dad, Rob’s Uncle and we look forward to this day next year when we can once again be united while following in your footprints through time.
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
We saw a few wildflowers poking their heads into the sun. |
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| On every trip into the Superstitions, I find another Gold Mine. Today the mine was filled with Memories. I can not wait for the next trip. |
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