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| Hiking | 12.00 Miles |
1,700 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.00 Miles | | | |
| 1,700 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Got a late start and a late finish on my solo hike Saturday. It was chilly for Phoenix and snow or rain expected tomorrow 1-7-24. The temps held in the 40s and 50s and signaled that winter really is here. First Water was packed so I went to the Horse Lot overflow. Nothing amazing planned today, just a poke around Hackberry, Garden Valley and then on to Cholla Tank above the mesa. I did a little other off trail stuff for a 12 mile 1700AEG day.
I love the popular area as many others due to great geology, scenery and history. It was more or less out and back 12 total miles with slightly alternate routes both ways. I prefer to wander off path and not retrace my steps. Hackberry Spring was clear and full as usual with frogs and small fish. The usual campers at the spring were absent, no doubt due to forecasted rain Sun. There were many groups of horse riders and I like to watch them climb the tricky path of the Hackberry Springs trail up to the valley. After years, I still discover new things here even if I don’t share all of them.
Garden Valley as many know, was a Hohokam settlement. I wanted to look at the legendary “Stone Idol” on the northern cliffs of Hackberry. My opinion now is that it is nothing more than a modern interpretation of a natural phenomenon. The alleged “rock wedges” below the stone god can be found in multiple places across the mesa meaning simply a naturally fractured thinner later of rock. Oh well, on to the next thing. Since the Hohokam were all over Garden Valley I’ve decided to add my own modern interpretation to the highest point on the valley floor. I call it “Hohokam Stone Altar”  From the summit altar you can see Four Peaks, which is hidden to much of the valley. Obviously the canyon walls are higher and much can be seen from the perimeter areas. Also the sight line from the Stone Alter to Four Peaks coincidentally passes through the alleged Stone Idol.
The large dam in the north eastern part of the valley is most definitely Hohokam and made by prolific earth movers to control the water. It was used as a stock tank during the ranch era but one side wall collapsed allowing the water out. Nobody was on the Cholla Tank trail but I crossed dozens of people on Second Water. The Cholla Tank trail is an easy to follow spur off of the Second Water Trail. The mesa top is a gently sloping grassy landscape that is mostly flat. There is pretty good Needle view most of the time. There is an interesting looking butte to the north of Hackberry Mesa. The tank was dry but probably will have some water after today. It is massive and entirely unlikely to have been a ranch project, which leaves the Hohokam as the creators. I’m at 98% on that guess, but have not found anything documenting it. It was getting late and I returned more or less the same way. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation None
Late fall colors at Hackberry Spring |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
From the summit altar you can see Four Peaks, which is hidden to much of the valley. Obviously the canyon walls are higher and much can be seen from the perimeter areas. Also the sight line from the Stone Alter to Four Peaks coincidentally passes through the alleged Stone Idol.
