Siphon Draw Trail to the Basin (not the Flatiron) - 11/22/16

Unfortunately, not many pictures on this last day of hiking in the Superstition Mountains.  We hiked the Siphon Draw Trail from the campground to an area called the Basin.  The elevation at the campground was approximately 2,000 feet and we climbed 1,100 feet to the Basin.  Paul labeled it "an efficient route uphill" ... code words for steep, straight up, rocky climb with no level stretches.  We were in the sun (I kept hoping for the shade of the canyon) most of the way until we crossed into the draw of the canyon.

We rested at the Basin, a small pond of water attracting countless bees in the crux of the rhyolite that had been eroded by the water falling off of the cliffs above.  In the shade it became quite cool ... on with the jackets.  We watched a parade of younger souls trek on above the Basin on their way to the Flatiron.  The Flatiron is at 4,861' elevation in just over a mile beyond the Basin (an additional 1,700 feet of elevation in a mile).    The trail is not maintained above the Basin and we had already encountered difficult trail conditions, boulder hopping, trail scrounging ... we decided to leave the summit of the Flatiron to younger, hardier souls and headed back down.

We are heading out tomorrow morning to return to Tucson.  We accomplished a few goals:  1) To re-connect with the system of state parks.  This was a pleasant state park with electricity and water, well-spaced sites, well-tended facilities, and picturesque scenery just outside of our door and 2) To prove to ourselves that we can take a quick trip without having to commit to long distance driving or long periods of time, and 3) Paul also managed to do a brief "winterizing" of Bambi before colder temperatures hit Tucson.

This is our brief, but spectacular take on getting away in Bambi !

Treasure Loop Trail - Lost Dutchman State Park - 11/21/16

A night of rain made us both appreciate camping in Bambi as opposed to a tent ... we can listen to the rain with the comfort of a dry bed and waking up to a warming cup of coffee in the morning without sodden surroundings.

We took the Discovery Interpretive Trail to the Treasure Loop Trail up to Green Boulder in the massive rock structure.  The clouds still threatened rain and the winds went beyond gusty, and it was a treat to hike in such an unusual landscape with clouds sheltering the sun and winds to cool us.  The massive rock structure is actually a resurgent dome from ancient volcanic activity and the unusual rock structures are the result of the forces of erosion on the dome.

We missed a turn-off on the trail and returned on Jacob's Crosscut Trail and back down the Siphon Draw Trail to return to our campsite in time for lunch and a break (read "nap").

So, our afternoon hike was to re-do our Treasure Loop Trail from the opposite direction to understand our error ... we succeeded in figuring out our misstep and were treated to a magnificent sunset reflection on the rock massif.

We also caught the UA versus University of Northern Colorado men's basketball game by streaming the PAC 12 network.  Viva camping with Internet accessibility!  Viva the W for the UA!

Drive to the Lost Dutchman Mine State Park - 11/20/16

When confronted with the cooler temperatures of coming winter and the need to prepare Bambi for the months ahead, we decided to take him out for one last adventure before we drain his system.  We wanted some camping site nearby (no long drives during the Thanksgiving driving. Season), reasonable temperatures (definitely not interested in freezing or over-heating), hiking from the campsite (no need to unhook Bambi from Fritz) and some where new to both of us.  Lost Dutchman Mine State Park fit the bill ... 2 hours from home, moderate temperatures, hiking in the Superstition Mountains, and we had never been to this park.

Fortunately check-in time wasn't until 2 pm, so we had a reasonably comfortable start to the morning.   We drove up the Pinal Pioneer Parkway ... so much more leisurely than driving I-10.  And, it gave us an opportunity to stop for a bite to eat at the Tom Mix Monument.  Tom Mix was a silent movie star as the quintessential Western cowboy with his horse, Tony the Wonder Horse, making over 200 Western films.  He was born on my birthdate, in 1880.  When he was 60 years old, his film career nearly over as "talkies" took over the movie industry, he was driving from Tucson to Florence and crashed when he failed to observe a construction site along the Pinal Pioneer Parkway.  He likely was drunk at the time having stopped along the way at a tavern to play poker and drink whiskey.  He actually survived the crash, but when getting out of his car, a heavy leather trunk that was lashed to his car fell on him and broke his neck.  The Tom Mix Monument celebrates his life and marks the site of his death.  Tony the Wonder Horse lived on and died on the same date as Tom two years later at the age of 37.

Enough history ... and on to Lost Dutchman State Park ... we followed our iPhone map onto a dirt road, not maintained by the County, deeply rutted and a challenge for Fritz and Bambi for over a mile.  Note to Self:  Do not take Mountain View Avenue in Apache Junction ... it is on private land and no longer maintained and a hazard to drive.

We arrived, safe and sound, to a lovely site and few things disturbed in Bambi after the rough road.  Rain is threatening tonight, but we're tucked into our site ... had a walk around the campground ... and hoping for some great hikes in the Superstition Mountains.  Who knows, perhaps we'll find that Lost Dutchman Mine ...