Slide Show

Monday 29 December 2014

RIDING ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN IN ONE GO

This was not a planned ride to go right through the Superstitions. We started out our ride heading out of the 1st water Trailhead where we had trailered to from Goldfield. Our planned ride was to get as close to Weaver's Needle in the Superstition Mountains as we could. After a couple hours Ron's horse got a little sore and tired from the 12 mile ride we did the day before so he decided he would he turn around and go back to the 1st water trailhead and trailer his horse home. We decide to go on. We would call him when we need to be picked up. So the 3 of us Alan Gilman, myself and Suzi Shawl went on. Lucky enough Alan has a Satellite phone with him just in case. We decided we would try making it all the way through the mountain in one go. We where not thinking real clear and had no idea what we got our selves into. First of all we didn't get started riding the trail until 11:30am and little did we know the trail was just short of 20 miles. That would be about an 8 hour ride and it gets dark early this time of year.  This means it is going to be well after dark when we get to the Peralta Trail head. Oh well at this point we have no idea it was not until we meet a few hiker well into the trip that we found we have another 7 miles to go and it was already 4:30 "Oh my Hell"....as Alan would say......

We matched on or should I say trotted on when we could. Our main worry was that big canyon trail leading to the bottom before Peralta this trail had a long edgy ledge all the way down to the valley below.
Last year and it was scary then so with all the rain this summer some of the trail could be even worse.    None of us wanted to do that trail in the dark. 



The start of our 8 hour trip right through the Superstitions with Alan leading the way. The weather is beautiful not to hot not too cold.


The scenery is just beautiful all the way through. 



It is a rocky trail a lot of the way


Ron's horse was still very tired for his ride yesterday so was a way's behind 


Looking down at the rock trail 


Every corner you turn there is new rock formations everywhere.


Suzi and Ron taking up the rear as Alan leads on. 



You can just start to see Weavers Needle.


A little break after 5 miles. Thinking we were most likely half way Ron is turning back and we have decide to March on........Little did we know we had another 15 miles...


The scenery was too good to turn around now. 


Suzi took over as our fearless leader...


We stopped for a little break.


Weaver's Needle was getting closer got this good picture of Alan and Suzi. 


Look at this rock formation it looks like building blocks.


Big Blue sky's and lovely scenery made us go forward..


The sun was starting to go down and the clouds were starting to cover the sky's but we were way to far in to turn around now. 


Then we go up to this scenic trail that is like a desert garden and you could look all the way down he valley towards Canyon lake. You could not see the lake but you could see the mountains the shadowed it. 



Pictures really don't do this country justice it is just beautiful.


We finally arrive at Weaver's Needle great shot Alan took of Suzi and I. 


Well Alan takes our picture I take his. 



On we go past Weaver's needle we couldn't be far now ????.......really!


New scenery around every corner. We were all in Haw....


Through canyons and over mountains we moved forward. 


Look at the scenery :) 




I had to take as many pictures as I could. Who knows if I will ever be this far into the Superstitions again. 


We finally ran into some hikers that told us we had about another 7 to 8 miles......really it is 4:30 so we trotted when ever we could to get to where the ledgy canyon is ...



This was an interesting area.  It was like a tunnel through the trees..


OMG we were so happy to get to this point. This is the ledgy trail that takes us to the bottom of the valley. We did not want to take it in the dark...


The sun was setting as we headed down the mountain. So I put my jacket with reflectors on. It was also starting to get a little cool. 


Love this picture of Suzi with the bright colours on the mountains from the sun setting 


The far mountains were getting brighter as we descended in the valley below. 


This picture is a little bleary but look a the far mountains...


Has we rode the last of the edgy ledgy trail we looked across the canyon to this sunset. The blury shot was not the camera, it was me shaking. I got the nerve to take my camera out of my pocket on the ledgy edgy trail to try and get a few shots. OMG this was worth the trip right here to see the sunset over this beautiful mountain they call the Superstitions. 


Once on the bottom we were in darkness. 


Thank god for my reflective coat and Suzi's flash light and of course Alan's Satellite phone we were able to call Ron for a ride. 

It was a Bucket List ride....
Thank you Suzi , Alan, and Ron for making a ride like this possible. 

20 miles, average speed 2.3mph and about 8 hours.

Oh just a word of caution if you ride with us bring a warm coat, flash light, and enough snacks for a long ride. 



Sunday 28 December 2014

CHRISTMAS IN THE SUPERSTITIONS MOUNTAINS AT GOLDFIELD

We have been here at Goldfield now for a few weeks. Even our cats love it here lots of trees to climb. Below is a picture of our two cats. The big one is Duma a Serval cat and the other is Kenya a Savannah cat with is part Serval. They love there morning and afternoon walks. 



Our cat Kenya up one of the Iron wood trees. 


This a great place in Goldfield Ghost Town to get Metal art. Love this store. 


When camping most of our meals our cooked in our dutch ovens. I love going to Fry's Grocery store in Apache Junction they always have some good meat specials. This week it was Cornish Hens 2for $6.00 so guess what is for dinner?? 


On the 23rd we headed up to the Mammoth Saloon for dinner and a show with the Saddle Strings


It is fun to ride up to the Mammoth Saloon after a ride. 


Just don't piss off the bartender LOL


This is our view from our campsite of the Superstitions as the sun goes down. 


Christmas day was cool and was trying to rain. We did a short 2 hour loop with friends of ours from Aldergrove. They have a property in Cave Creek area and came over for a ride and dinner. 


We rode the loop right below "The Superstitions". 


Great views from up there. 


Leslie and Mauro great view shot with a storm brewing in the background. 


Arizona is so green this winter. 



Ron and I :) 



Another Shot of Mauro and Leslie. Time to head back to the campsite to get my Prime rib into the dutch oven for christmas dinner. 



The Saturday after Christmas we trailered to Canyon Lake with some of our Arizona friends. Also a friend from Oregon with her friend Mary from somewhere cold LOL. 


Picture of the Marina where we parked our rig.


Looking below at the lagoon coming from the lake. 



The trail up for the Marina is a rocky steep trail. 




You can not bet the views once at the top. For that matter you can't bet the views all the way up. 


This has to be one of the most scenic rides. The 2 Arizonians riding with us had never rode this trail. Funny they have Canadian tour guides LOL 


This trail is a extreme trail not for the inexperienced riders. It is more of a mule trail but our horses did ok. There are some very steep ledgy parts so if you have any issues with heights maybe this is not a trail for you. 


The scenery is just unbelievable


You can see the photo above how hard the horses have to work to get up this rock face. 



But once up look at the views :) 




Looking back at the lake from above


One part of the trail looks almost like it is not passable so Ron is checking it out. OK after a big jump up on the the rock face there is a trail on the other side down. 


Here is the other side of that rock face down a edgy narrow trail. 


Coming down the narrow trail 


Mary above checking out what she got into riding with these crazy Canadian's. 


Julie and Mary taking up the rear. 


Suzi blazing the lead. What a view!!


Suzi coming down the hill. 


20 minutes from camp. Riding the sand draw in behind Goldfield


What a great ride. Just over 13 miles average speed was only 2.3mph LOL that shows you how difficult the trail really was. 



I mapped the ride on my GPS here is the map above.