Hackberry Spring, Black Mesa, Lost Dutchman - Western Superstitions Loop

Weather:  65º, sunny, light clouds

About this Hike:  We were treated to three days of significant rain this past week.  By Friday things had cleared up, and by Saturday it seemed perfect for a hike in the Superstitions. 

First Water Trailhead was the goal, with trails accessible from Canyon Lake as a backup should the washes on First Water Rd. be raging.  In fact the washes were dry, if not a bit muddy.  First Water was eroded, but passable in the Tacoma.  Heck, I saw plenty of sedans back there too. 

While the washes along First Water Rd. had dried up, the creeks were flowing strong in the canyons.  Not so strong that crossing the creeks was treacherous, but just enough so as to provide the rare and beautiful juxtaposition of water in the desert. 

We parked at the equestrian staging lot and picked up Hackberry Trail from there.  Down in the canyon the creek was flowing with cold, clear water.  An upper pool flanked by boulders gave way to a small flume down each side.  It was magnificent to see this normally dry arroyo flowing.  I was equally glad to see the water was clear and not black with Woodbury ash.

We hiked out of Hackberry and back up to First Water Trail. There is a grassy, flat meadow with a teddy bear cholla forest.  On past hikes I've commented that between the grass and sun-baked clay, it looks like a flood plain.  My theory was correct.  It was a muddy mess.  It took several detours to get thru the heaviest muddy parts.  I found some deep horse tracks and followed those—the equestrian riders had indeed found the least bad path thru the mud.

From there we continued up Black Mesa and then down into Boulder Canyon.  Boulder Creek was flowing strong and several crossings were tricky but not hard.  In the canyon we heard a sound that was something between a blustering horse and a growl.  First on the right, then on the left, then behind.  Each time this seemingly angry animal would scare a flock of little black birds.  I was locked and loaded, finger on the trigger—of my bear spray.  Then it stopped.

A couple miles further, and now heading back toward the trailhead on Dutchman 104, the sound happened again.  First on the right, then on the left.  This is when we realized there was no animal spooking the birds. Rather, it was the collective wing beats of these little black birds rapidly scattering that caused the spooky noise.  I kept my bear spray close in my pocket anyway.

The hike back along 104 paralleled First Water Creek.  The sound of the running creek was delightfully serene.  There were multiple points where the trail crossed the creekbed. 

We underestimated how long this hike was going to take.  Thankfully I had a jacket and we both had headlamps.  We were treated to a beautiful sunset, stellar dark-sky views, and a hooting owl. 

Upon return to the truck, I was surprised at how many cars were still in the parking lots.  Campers, likely.

And what do I always say when I hike?  It just leads me to discover more trails and places I want to explore.  I'm curious to see as more videos and pictures come out of the Eastern Superstitions how much is left intact post-Woodbury fire and if some of those more rugged, remote hikes may be in my future...

Arizona Cypress Trail: Redeeming Value for this Trip

Weather:  78º, sunny

About this Hike:  Yesterday's hikes were a bust.  AZ Cypress trail in the Dry Creek Basin of Sedona was redeeming value to this Sedona trip.

The trailhead is down a short dirt road (more like a driveway) just off Dry Creek road prior to the 'Y' in the road that leads toward Fay and Boyton Canyons.  Enroute I passed many suckers parking their cars on precarious (and possibly illegal?) angles in an effort to get out to Devil's Bridge (I remember the good ol' days when this wasn't a Instagram hot spot).

Anyway, AZ Cypress was much quieter.  The driveway leads to a large open dirt area that would be abundant parking.  However, the silence was quickly broken by target shooters firing into a soft berm.  I opted to park the truck just off the road the trailhead lest they pump lead into it.  There's room for two vehicles here.  Otherwise, it's a short walk from the open dirt area.

The sound of gunfire aside, this was a very peaceful hike. The AZ Cypress trail starts off in soft sand as it leads toward a dry creekbed.  I'm guessing that creek overflows when water is present, hence the sand and soft, erroded berms.  Oh and the cypress trees.  These have to be some of the biggest Arizona Cypresses I've ever seen—bigger than examples on the Mogollon Rim.  Surely these are abundantly watered trees, further evidence that the dry creek can sometimes be a raging torrent.

The well-mapped and signed network of trails in this area lends to some beautiful views of Sedona and west toward Mingus Mountain, Jerome, and even Prescott. 

There were some sycamores near the creekbed that I tried to think of as fall color, even if they just turn brownish-orange. 

A full and satisfying afternoon of exploration was capped off by a hike back to the truck along AZ Cypress.  It was quiet at the trailhead.  A shot rang out.  I startled and hurt my neck.  Time to head back to town for a beer at Sedona Beer Company.  

Robber's Roost Hideout & Casner Mountain

Weather:  77º, sunny

About this Hike:  The Sedona icon Robber's Roost Hideout Cave has been on my shortlist to visit for a while.  Now that I have the 4x4 truck this Red Rock Country landmark is readily accessible.

We've been in a fairly dry spell here in Arizona, and the dirt road out to Robber's Roost would have been passable in most any SUV or even a sedan.  It did have a few small washes to cross, so probably not the best idea if wet weather is in the forecast. 

I parked at the main parking lot for the cave.  It's about another mile hike up the un-maintained dirt road to the trailhead.  The trail is short and becomes difficult to follow, although there were cairns.  Eventually it leads to the little red butte that houses Robber's Roost.

I'm honestly amazed at how many people have made it to this cave (if you want to call it that—it looks more like an indentation in the side of the butte).  I'm even more amazed at the pictures I see of coolers, chairs, and party favors in the cave.  You see, the trail eventually gives way to a narrow red-rock shelf.  The shelf slopes downward.  Downward is a sheer drop several hundred feet off a cliff. No hiking guides I read advised of this. 

I have severe fear of heights.  With no handholds, and a slope in the slippery red-rock trail, the odds were not in my favor.  I tried to be brave and press on.  I began to shake violently. 

Part of hiking is knowing your limits and knowing when to turn back.  I was completely disappointed, because from what I understand the cave was just around the corner from the treacherous point in the trail.  My fear of heights has limited me before on past hikes, but living to hike another day is more important.

A flat rock made for a comfortable bench while someone else in my hiking party braved the steep ledge.  His report back:  The cave and the surrounding views are overrated.

The next part of the hike was a short walk along the road to Casner Mountain trail.  This was described in a hiking guide as a set of switchbacks leading to the top of a mesa with elk meadows and possibly some pine forest.  Sounded beautiful. 

What I got was an extremely steep hike up with loud, buzzy high-voltage lines overhead. The trail ascends through dry desert grassland, and trees/scrub are sparse. The entire trail is exposed.  It's actually an old maintenance road for the power lines. 

Water and daylight were both running lower than I'd like.  I made it to what ended up being a false summit on Casner and decided to turn back. 

From near the top of Casner I looked down into a picturesque Sedona landscape with red-rock buttes and spires, and the yawning expanse of Sycamore Canyon.  Turns out another mile down the dirt road would have taken me to a trailhead for Sycamore Canyon. 

While both my hikes were a bust today, I may come back to explore more of Sycamore Canyon.  Apparently there's a 19 mile loop through the canyon that also takes you up Casner Mountain on the backside.  Like I've often said, all that hiking teaches me is there are more trails I want to explore.