VILLAGE HIKERS

VAW Hikers Schedule 2015 - 2016

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VAW Hiking Schedule for Winter 2014/2015

Hackberry Spring Loop

This hike took in the longer loop trail. There was quite a bit of water in the creek that leads through the canyon to the spring area.

Walking on the cliff edge to avoid water in the creek

The canyon

A "straight up" view of the canyon wall at the spring

Could not resist this view of "Weaver's Needle"

San Tan Mountain - Dynamite Trail

This hike was a first for this group as we explored a train in the San Tan Mountain Range. We got a bi of a surprise as we finished the hike when we came upon the grave site shown below.

Black Mesa Loop

We decided to do this loop to see if any water was flowing in First Water creek and sure enough there was plenty. This is following the many rain falls we had in January.

Am I a camel, a squirrel, or something else?

Must be lunch time?

Definitely lunch time

Two chicks at lunch.....

One of many water crossings...

Hieroglyphics Ridgeline Carney Spring

This hike was done as a second stage of the Superstition Ridgeline. We had earlier done the eastern end at Carney Spring and today was the centre section. There was a lot of flowing water at the Hieroglyphics canyon site and for much of the climb from there to the summit at the ridge. This is by far the most difficult hike we have completed. Once at the ridge we decided that with all the water flowing is would be safer to continue east on the ridge and exit at Carney Spring.

Profile of our hike

One of several pools at Hieroglyphics Canyon

Sharon on the move...
Hans and Del way back at top right

One step and one rock at a time....

Jiggs and Sharon admiring the canyon

Del capturing a "Kodak" moment

A picture is worth a 1000 words
except this one does not do justice to the
climb we just completed from the base of the canyon

One of several water falls

We are way above this "balancing rock" for this shot

First summit from the canyon

A "selfie" of the "Four at the summit"

"Three Guys" with Weavers Needle in the back ground

"The cairn is up here...."

Looking back at the cliff edge we just passed

One of many steep downward climbs

The Ridgeline "Pearly Gates"
These cairns stand about three feet tall

Piestewa (Squaw) Peak

We did this summit to get it off our "Bucket List"

profile showing elevation
change of 1192 feet

The trail

Up, Up and more Up...
steps all the way

At the summit

Ridge Line and Carney Spring

This hike was done to scout out the trail that we would be using if/when we attempt the cross over on the Superstition Ridge Line Trail.

Profile of the hike showing an elevation change of 1496 feet

The trail we followed

Still not close to our destination

A pause Half way up for a Kodak moment

Balancing rock

At the top

Superstition Hoodoos as seen from
the Carney Trail sign at the top

A view at the top looking west with
hoodoos in the far distances

Looking back to where we came from....

South Mountain Trail
This was a leisure hike on one of the more flat trails in the South Mountain area.

The hikers who dared to hike...

"Alberta Wildlife" on the trail....

Teddy Bears at Peralta
Just four hikers were out to visit the Teddy Bears. Can you see the bears in the photos below?

Miner's Needle

Resting up for the return trek....

Morning sun shines on and through this Cholla

Willow Spring Horse Trail

We discovered this 5.25 mile trail while hiking the Willow Spring Loop (Joe's Loop). We saw a trail branching off and we decided to follow it. It led us on what is a well used horse trail that headed south almost to one of the access roads that go into Bull Dog Canyon. We completed a small loop at the south end and returned to the trailhead on Apache Trail Highway 88.

Willow Spring Horse Loop (my label and not official name)
Trail on the left of photo is a section of Cottonwood Spring

Some "Off Road Drivers" that met us at the Trailhead

Unusual rock formation forming an arch...
looks like three folks having a chat

Idaho Road 1. Search for Harris Hawks 2. Trail to Mask Arches

Four of us, Del, Hans, Cam and myself headed out on this cool morning is search of what was confirmed to be "Harris Hawks" that have taken up residence in the mountains around Bull Dog Canyon just north of Idaho Road.

Up, Up and more Up..

Cave Explorer

Natural Arch at the summit

Another Cave Explorer

Another Arch

A Teddy Bear showing us his back

Profile of Trail for Idaho to Mask Arches

Profile of Trail in Search of Harris Hawks

Left with loop is Idaho to Mask
Short trail on right is climb to Harris Hawks

South Mountain - Javelina Mormon National Pima Beverly Loop - Dec 26

Only three hikers survived the Christmas gourmet meals to enjoy this great Boxing Day hike. A loop that involved 5 different trails combined for a great seven miles with 755 feet elevation climb. Some photos of the ruins we passed by on the trail.

Bulldog Canyon Loop - Dec 22

We had four hikers out today as we explored Bulldog Canyon in search of the "Mask Arches" (See photo below). This hike followed the 4x4 road for while before varying off to a nice trail which has obviously been used by horse riders.

Multi room cave

Hans, Cam and Del ducking under the
cave in the back ground

The "Mask Arches"

Another arch that we could not identify as yet....

We zoomed the camera lens to 48X to capture this image.
Is it a bird, a man, a rock or "UFO"?
It is a future destination for us

Jacob's Cross Cut and Treasure Loop - Dec 19

Cam and I did this hike on Friday afternoon and came across quite a number of young folks out for a hike on the trail. Great to see so many younger folks. We also came across this little (maybe not so little) desert creature....

Arizona Desert Brown Tarantula

Resting up on a trail side bench

Hawk's nest and Dixie Mountain Loop - Dec 15

We had three hikers today. We did 4.6 miles and managed an elevation change of 1600 plus feet.

Hans and Cam in a forest of Cholla

This large nest is home to a pair of Owls that return each January to raise a new generation

Wild Horse Trail - Dec 12

There were four hikers out for this easy hike. Dave was successful in his search for some desert donuts and managed to gather quite a few to add to the soil that he has in his tomato planter. We covered a distance of 6.6 miles on this hike.

South Mountain - Corona Loop - Dec 8

Dave and I did this hike on Monday. Probably the rockiest trail I have used over the years.

This was quite a hike to the top

Corona Loop on South Mountain - very rocky desent

Hawes Ridge Trail - Dec 5

There were 5 hikers out this morning. It was a pleasure to welcome Linda on the Friday hikes. Dave says it was a chore to convince her that Friday hikes were safe and lots of fun. The scheduled hike was 2:75 miles but we completed more than half that distance by 9:00AM and a decision was made to continue for another hour or so before turning around and heading back to the village. We continue on Saguaro 51/52 trail and made it up to a look out point that offered a beautiful view of the entire valley from Falcon Field to Phoenix. By all accounts, Linda enjoyed our extended hike and had no complaints at the end of the 5 miles we covered. Looking forward to having her back each Friday and hopefully with some other brave souls.