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Awesome Hike-Reverse Flat Iron

11/9/2018

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I took this image at the end of the hike because in the morning, the sun was at the above ridge, my destination.  I had not done enough research so my knowledge of where to leave the main trail, signed as "Massacre Grounds" and begin bush whacking to the ridge was non existent.  However....
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....I knew there was a small group ahead of me and thought if I could catch them, once on the route, I could find my way.  I encountered a guy and asked if he had seen a group and he said no but that there were a couple of people ahead.  I was walking about as fast as I could through these gentle slopes.
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I caught the aforementioned two people and asked them about a group and they said they were about 30 minutes ahead!  Yikes, more ground to make up. They must have started before the appointed 7am while I started at 7:40am. The views become more special as I rise above the desert floor.
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The terrain becomes rockier as always when you approach the Supes.
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I'm still on the Massacre Grounds trail but stopping frequently to listen.  Maybe if I hear their voices...and I do!  They are midway up the rock formation, right of center but how do I reach them as they are now off trail.  I keep going, looking to my right for a clue for the exit.
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The trail winds toward the above wall.  Thinking the trail ascends that somehow but no.....
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......it stays low and passes in front.  I poke around but the trail ends here.  I retrace my path, annoyed that I missed the exit and have lost at least 20 minutes.  Heading back, looking carefully, I notice a very faint path.  The path disappears but there are enough cairns (rock piles others have left to follow) that I begin to make up ground and.....
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....the catch is made.  Kind of proud of myself and route finding was a lot of fun.  I was not part of the group so did not want to interfere.  Take a look at the upper portion of the image.  See those two kind of distinct pillars like goal posts that stand alone?  That is what I did read was the exit from the route.
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I reach a cairn, stop, look for the next one, reach it, stop, etc... All the while the view is such a nice distraction.
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Maybe you can spot the others below me.  Super steep through here, rugged, boulder hopping, scrambling, gawd I love it. Exciting stuff to me.
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The final slope.  The average grade for the final 1 mile is 27%.  If I was on a bike I'd have to push it.  I was walking so stooped over because of the slope my hands were scraping on the ground.  Just could not stand straight.
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The last pitch and the going is not obvious.  I probe several places and at last....
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....emerge to be greeted by this strange alien looking spire. I had walked through the center of the goal posts and that too was cool. Now where to go?  I had no idea.
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I knew where I was so not lost and in the distance is Superstition Peak so a feature called "The Flat Iron" would be off to the right. I head toward the slope to the left of the rock formation.
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I reach a ridge, look down, see what I suspect is the "Rridgeline Trail", reach it and follow it up and over another ridge and.....
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...eureka!  The Flat Iron, so named because it resembles an upside down iron.
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I follow the well defined Flat Iron trail to Jacob's Crosscut and march through a wonderful, undulating plain.  I reach my car with 9.2 miles and 3400' of climbing.  Hard hike and a lot of fun.
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    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

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