Hike #12 - Siphon Draw - FlatIron - Apache Junction AZ

Hike #12

Date: January 19, 2014 

Location:  Apache Junction, AZ

Hikers: Julio & Linda 

Directions: I10 South Or 101 South to 60E. Take 60 East. Take Exit 196 for AZ-88/Idaho Road. Turn left onto S Idaho Road. Slight right onto AZ-88 E/N Apache Trail. Turn right into park. 


http://azstateparks.com/Parks/loDU/index.html

Superstition Mountains

I have been nervous about this hike because of the reviews about it being 2 times Camelback Mountain. Julio and I do well on adventures so this will be one! We planned for a whole day adventure.  I read some reviews and a young couple said it took them 2.5 hours up and 2 hours down so I figured it was atleast a 5 hour day.  I packed a lunch and snacks.

Julio had a new Camelback  but it is a cheapy. Well.  It was filled to the top and I guess we figured out why it was a cheapie.  The top does not stay on.  Good thing he has a sense of humor.

There is about a 10 minute walk from the parking lot to the trail head.  It is a pretty trail.  A litte history on this hike. The Superstition Mountains are known to have Gold in there hills.  The Lost Dutchman Mine has a story about a German Immigrant who found gold in 1891.

Sun Dial - It is 10:20 as we start the hike.  

The first part of this hike is an easy slow up.  It is exposed to the sun.  This morning it is still about 65 and a slight breeze.  It is nice but heating up quickly.

We start heading up quickly.  I realize that Julio does not like flat or inclines that have boring scenary.  But I was hoping that once we hit the more "fun" part of the trail he would perk up.  

There were quite a few people on the trail.  As we went into the canyon part we saw a group of guys flying a radio controlled airplane.  We stopped and watched for a while.  Then the plane took off into the canyon and would not stop.  It crashed far up the hill.  The guys had to hike back up to find it.  They did and it was only slightly bent.  It was earie watching this plane.  There actually was a real plan crash into the mountain. It was in 2011 the night before Thanksgiving. A father, his kids and the pilot crashed and all died.  There is a memorial at the top and there are still pieces of the plane occasionally found in the mountains.  

 This is when the hike picks up. We are now in the canyon.  Julio suddenly comes back to like and seems more interested in hiking.  Thank God!!  Now the pictures will start.

 This is where the fun starts.  The trail gets more rugged and steeper.  The markings for the trail are blue dots that show you the way to go.  If you hike these you really need to watch the dots.  If you miss one you will be bushwacking to get back on.  We talked to some guys that came down and the followed someone that "knew what he was doing" and they went off trail for a while. We have hiked a little over a mile at this point.  Stopped many times and are ready to hike the harder part of this hike.

 

We are hiking to the Flat Iron which is the mountain behind me that looks like an iron.  Still have a way to go. 

Follow the Blue Dots

You can see the people ahead of us.  This is Siphon Draw and the official end of the trail.  In the rainy months the water runs through this area and there actually is a waterfall.  It is quite beautiful.  

 

 From this view point you can see the terrain that you are hiking.  It is all walking on or over rocks.  At some points there is lose gravel and you need to be very careful while going up. This is where you start using your arms and leaing forward.  Are we having fun yet?

 Today the Patriots are playing the Bronco's so I decided to sport my new Patriots shirt.  I found some fans and some haters.  LOL I said that I hoped to get down by the time the Patriots beat the Bronco's.  That did not go as planned but I did get to meet more people today.

 Julio was sporting some gloves to help climbing.  They helped.  He said he was like a cat.  Instead of Cat Man Do.  I called him Cat Man Peru.  He may have short legs but that guy can climb rocks.

 More Arrows and amazing view as we approach the top. 

 Lots of trees that we used to grab on to while hiking up some of the rocks.  At times I was not sure if I would get up the next spot.  There was one place that Julio had to guide me where to put my feet.

 

This is a great example of the incline that we are climbing rocks.  I thought I was good and almost there. Close but not yet.  After 2 hours and 30 minutes of hiking I knew from asking other coming down that we were almost there.  We would be hitting the 10 foot rock wall and then that would be it.

Trying to go Up. 

Trying to Go Up. 

People helping others come down

 This is where the hike ended for me.  I tried multiple times to get up the rock wall. Between being tired, scared and not having the strength in my leg to overcome the fear I couldn't do it.  I was only minutes from the top but I couldn't do it.  There were so many people around too. It became chaos that I just couldn't do it.  Julio headed up alone and took pictures from the top.  He made it!!

I met a nice couple from Denmark that were visiting the USA. The woman could not get up either. We sat while her husband went up. She got hit by a rock while we were waiting.  Very scary for her.  Julio and I ate lunch here and took a break.  Going down won't be any easier. Plus there are alot of people going down too that is slowing us down.  Sometime you need momentum when getting over the rocks.  We stopped a couple times to put a few minutes between us.

 I have to say just getting to the top was incredible and very difficult!  

Top of Flat Iron

Now we head back down!!  I am a little disappointed but I don't think this will be something that haunts me.  I know my limitations.  I have never been afraid of height but I know that I was out of my comfort zone on this last wall. The saying I HIT THE WALL. Was real.

Our Denmark Friend!

 So this is was really weird. As we headed down this girl and her lab were coming up.  She had NO SHOES on.  She hikes without shoes.  I can not imagine how she did it.  Julio asked where she was from and she said Flagstaff.  He said really I thought you were from another planet.  HA

 Heading back down slowly.  We stopped again and had some strawberries on a rock.  Julio decided that maybe for his 45th birthday he should blog about going to 45 different bars.  HAHAHA.  At this point I am thinking maybe I should change my 50th goal to drinking.
This is one tough hike.  Maybe bar hopping would be easier.

 It was an Amazing Day.  As we head to the start of the trailhead the sun is setting and the temperatures are heading back down.  It really was a full day of hiking! 

An Amazing Day....did someone say Peruvian Food for Dinner?

Here is my recap of this hike.  It is the hardest hike I have ever done.  Harder than doing the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim. Walking 23 miles is a piece of cake compared to this.  I think it is the rock portion of this hike that made it difficult.  I know as I write this that I have not been this sore doing any other hike.  Could it be that I have not been working out as much, donated blood this week, hiked 6 miles the day before this hike, dinosaurs or just getting old.  I don't know but this was a BUTT buster. I loved it! Lucky 13 Next.

Number 12 Done!

Here is my GPS Tracker.  The hike from the parking lot was 7.45 miles.  It took us a little over 3 hours up and 2.5 down.  That included lunch and stops.  I put this is extreme difficult.  The elevation on this hike is 2600 feet.  If you have knee problems do not do this hike. Stop at Siphon Draw.  Do not hike with kids or dogs.  Bring lots of water.  My camelback was empty just before we finished and it was a cool day.

The tracker on the right is my crazy attempts to scale the wall.  I think it is funny to see how I tried and also my pacing back and forth being frustrated I could not get over the wall.

A picture tells a thousand words!!

Bring a photographer along and you get GREAT pictures.