Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Flat Iron Hike....or so I Thought

11/5/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
I had read about a hike called the "Flat Iron" and comments claiming it was twice as long, twice as high and twice as difficult as Phoenix's Camelback Mountain hike.  That was good enough for me so I drove to Apache Junction, about 90 minutes north.  Actually, that is not the "Flat Iron" in the foreground.....
Picture
....but there it is in the upper middle of the image, shaped like an upside down iron..  So, you begin climbing and go to the right of the prominent feature in the 1st image.
Picture
Soon, I reached this very cool flat rock section in the side canyon.  Maybe you can make out a guy with a black shirt and a guy with a white shirt, climbing up kind of a steep slope.  Features like this thrill me but not always in a good way.  I don't need to be tumbling down a steep slope and banging in to boulders at my advanced age.
Picture
I was glad there were three guys to follow because I had not a clue where to go once the slick rock section petered out.  I eventually caught them and kept going, missing a turn to the left yet still following a distinct trail.  On I went....
Picture
....where the route flattened and led me to a prominent point overlooking the Superstition Mountain wilderness area to the north and the valley to the south.
Picture
I was standing on the rock  above, admiring the view, when a bee began buzzing me.  Instinctively I swatted at it and killed it.  Then I remembered that is not wise as they leave a marker on you that attracts friends that attack.  Several people have been injured or killed in the last few months in Arizona by the insects.  I beat a hasty retreat.  I came back to the top of the slick rock section and heard voices above me in a boulder strewn canyon.
Picture
These two young guys pointed out I had missed the main trail to the Flat Iron.  Damn!!!  Oh well, I followed them down for the 3 mile return.  Note the mountains in the distance, below.  This is a very neat hike and listening to these guys describe the section I missed, requires me to go back, soon, like tomorrow.
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist who enjoys poking fun at himself but most especially at his friends. No nicknames or comments are intended to offend, accept them in the humor they are intended.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.