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

Charlebois Springs Hike, Superstition Wilderness

1/20/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
The backstory: My favorite group, "Arizona Strong Hikers", scheduled a 7am start time of this 15 mile hike.  Hmmmm, sunrise is 7:24, it's a 90 minute drive for me so I decided to start at 8am and try to catch.  I arrive at the Peralta trail head on the southern end of the Superstition Wilderness.  To catch the group prior to their arrival at our destination, (Charlebois Springs and the location of the "Master Map") will require me to run a bunch.  The problem with that is....
Picture
….the first 2 miles of the Bluff Spring trail (which starts from the Peralta trail head) is steep when climbing and rocky always.  Rock formations tower over me during this section
Picture
The trail finally dips down and into this very neat ravine.   There is some flat hiking and then more climbing.  At some point, the Terrapin Trail comes in from the left but I ignore that and continue on Bluff Spring.  
Picture
There are fine views of Weaver's Needle along the trail.  The trail is clean in places so I run when I can.  I encounter a group of ladies, camping and inquire if they have seen a group of 9 hikers ahead of me and they confirm they have but I'm about 45 minutes behind...ouch.
Picture
The trail dips into another canyon.  There are many springs and canyons encountered having names of Music Canyon, LaBarge Canyon, Crystal Springs, Holmes Springs, etc..  
Picture
At about mile 3.5, I reach the intersection with the Dutchman Trail and jump on that.  The destination is off trail so I'm kind of under some pressure to reach the group before they leave the Dutchman for Charlebois Springs.  I encounter another group of campers and they tell me I am 20 minutes behind my group.  Dang.
Picture
I hike/run through the canyon shown above before climbing out of it.  Note the green hillside on the right.
Picture
The trail winds above another canyon and I run into some backpackers.  They tell me I am 5 minutes behind my group.  
Picture
Yes, this is till the Superstitions as now I am creek side and there are many mature Sycamore and Cottonwood trees.  
Picture
The creeks are not all narrow and easily jumped as I encounter one and in another canyon.....
Picture
….another.  Really beautiful setting.  I ascend and look.....
Picture
….back.  Wow.  OK, then it becomes a little strange.  
Picture
I reach the above point, about 7.2 miles into the hike.  I hear what sounds like a horse clopping behind me so I step off the trail and here comes a guy, running.  Turns out his name is Joe and part of the group.  He had taken a secondary trail to climb a peak and was now trying to catch the group.  He had seen the group while at the peak and was surprised I had not yet seen them.  Hmmmm.  I take off my pack, check my map and we conclude we are really close to the destination.  He takes off and then after I put my pack on and follow, I look at the above, note there is a faint trail and decide to see if this side canyon is where I would find Charlebois Spring and......
Picture
…..eureka!  Hike leader, Wade and the others are relaxing from the trek.  We never got around to finding the Master Map which supposedly gives clues to the location of Spanish gold.  The boulder on which the inscriptions are located have been discovered by others and I regret that I did not look and get an image of it.
Picture
We never saw Joe again but I'm sure he made it back out given this route has only 2 turns in it.  At some point, Wade led the group to find the origins of another spring but I had that drive ahead of me so I kept going, finishing with 15.1 miles and 2500' of climbing.  Saw some new areas of the "Supes" and as always, the views are awesome, like the above.
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.