Author: Art (ID: 1009) Posted: 2009-06-13 01:07 GMT+00:00 Mileage: 3.69 km
Tags: Photography, Hiking, Landscape, desert, hike, photographs
Views: 5035
A few weeks ago I was on a trail near Superior, Arizona, and looked up at the beautiful cliffs to the east of town. I wanted to get to the top of those cliffs, but I didn't know if that would even be possible. If it involved rock climbing, I wasn't going to do it. I looked for a way up from the other side on June 6 but didn't get more than a hundred meters from my truck. While looking at Google Earth that night, I thought I could see a faint trail from the road to the cliff edge. This is the story of following that trail.
Google Translation A few weeks ago I was on a trail near Superior, Arizona, and looked up at the beautiful cliffs to the east of town. I wanted to get to the top of those cliffs, but I didn't know if that would even be possible. If it involved rock climbing, I wasn't going to do it. I looked for a way up from the other side on June 6 but didn't get more than a hundred meters from my truck. While looking at Google Earth that night, I thought I could see a faint trail from the road to the cliff edge. This is the story of following that trail.
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This is where the trail intersects the road. It's overgrown and you have to be looking for it and directly at it to see it.
Google Translation This is where the trail intersects the road. It's overgrown and you have to be looking for it and directly at it to see it.IMG_0192
I saw a few lizards along the trail. Most of them looked like this one. I got several pictures of this one.
Google Translation I saw a few lizards along the trail. Most of them looked like this one. I got several pictures of this one.IMG_0193
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I knew that it was a real trail and not my imagination finding patterns in the noise of the satellite view when I saw all of the cairns along the trail.
Google Translation I knew that it was a real trail and not my imagination finding patterns in the noise of the satellite view when I saw all of the cairns along the trail.IMG_0199_200_201Enhancer
There are a lot of unusual rock formations out here. I guess that actually makes them usual.
Google Translation There are a lot of unusual rock formations out here. I guess that actually makes them usual.IMG_0202_3_4Enhancer
The cairns were usually placed close enough together that I could see at least 3 at any one time. There's a lizard perched on this one.
Google Translation The cairns were usually placed close enough together that I could see at least 3 at any one time. There's a lizard perched on this one.IMG_0205
Zoomed in on the lizard. It's keeping an eye on me.
Google Translation Zoomed in on the lizard. It's keeping an eye on me.IMG_0206_7_8Enhancer
Looking back the way I came. I took most pictures facing the east because the sun was in my face if I took pictures in the direction I was going.
Google Translation Looking back the way I came. I took most pictures facing the east because the sun was in my face if I took pictures in the direction I was going.IMG_0209_10_11Enhancer
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There are a lot of cairns visible in this picture.
Google Translation There are a lot of cairns visible in this picture.IMG_0213
A tall cairn.
Google Translation A tall cairn.IMG_0214_5_6Enhancer
That's a natural rock formation up there, not a cairn.
Google Translation That's a natural rock formation up there, not a cairn.IMG_0217_8_9Enhancer
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I couldn't figure out why somebody left that there.
Google Translation I couldn't figure out why somebody left that there.IMG_0221_2_3Enhancer
There are a lot of these pipes out here. I think they are survey markers placed by a mining company.
Google Translation There are a lot of these pipes out here. I think they are survey markers placed by a mining company.IMG_0224_5_6Enhancer
Flowers along the way.
Google Translation Flowers along the way.IMG_0227
Survey marker.
Google Translation Survey marker.IMG_0228
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In many places, the trail was over nice, solid rock. In some places, it went through soft soil or a sandy bottom of a wash. I didn't see any other hiker footprints anywhere. This trail is very rarely used, which explains why it is so overgrown.
Google Translation In many places, the trail was over nice, solid rock. In some places, it went through soft soil or a sandy bottom of a wash. I didn't see any other hiker footprints anywhere. This trail is very rarely used, which explains why it is so overgrown.IMG_0233_4_5Enhancer
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That looks like a mosquito on that flower.
Google Translation That looks like a mosquito on that flower.IMG_0248_49_50Enhancer
There were a few thin clouds. They didn't give me any shade.
Google Translation There were a few thin clouds. They didn't give me any shade.IMG_0254_5_6Enhancer
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This tree is covered with fuzzy seeds.
Google Translation This tree is covered with fuzzy seeds.IMG_0259
A close-up of the seeds.
Google Translation A close-up of the seeds.IMG_0261_2_3Enhancer
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A stock tank. From Google Earth, I knew that this is near the Apache Leap cliffs. I'm almost there.
Google Translation A stock tank. From Google Earth, I knew that this is near the Apache Leap cliffs. I'm almost there.IMG_0268_69_70Enhancer
Looking back the way I came.
Google Translation Looking back the way I came.IMG_0277_8_9Enhancer
The stock tank from further up the trail.
Google Translation The stock tank from further up the trail.IMG_0280_1_2Enhancer
Zoomed in.
Google Translation Zoomed in.IMG_0284_5_6Enhancer
Near the cliff, some campers had built a wall to block wind from their campfire.
Google Translation Near the cliff, some campers had built a wall to block wind from their campfire.IMG_0287_8_9Enhancer
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I'm not afraid of heights, but I don't like standing on cliff edges.
Google Translation I'm not afraid of heights, but I don't like standing on cliff edges.IMG_0295_6_7Enhancer
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I continued following cairns along the cliff edge. This is looking back at the camper's wall.
Google Translation I continued following cairns along the cliff edge. This is looking back at the camper's wall.IMG_0301_2_3Enhancer
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As I knew it would be, the view is very nice from up here.
Google Translation As I knew it would be, the view is very nice from up here.IMG_0316_7_8Enhancer
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I zoomed in to get pictures of lots of things far down below.
Google Translation I zoomed in to get pictures of lots of things far down below.IMG_0322_3_4Enhancer
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That's the town of Superior, Arizona. Since I was up here in late afternoon, most of my pictures looking out from the cliff are facing into the sun, which makes it difficult to get decent pictures.
Google Translation That's the town of Superior, Arizona. Since I was up here in late afternoon, most of my pictures looking out from the cliff are facing into the sun, which makes it difficult to get decent pictures.IMG_0329_30_31Enhancer
I used my hand to shade the camera lens.
Google Translation I used my hand to shade the camera lens.IMG_0332_3_4Enhancer
That flat-topped mountain back there is Picketpost Mountain. I need to make an @trip to its summit.
Google Translation That flat-topped mountain back there is Picketpost Mountain. I need to make an @trip to its summit.IMG_0335
There's a large copper mine in Superior. That's why the town is there.
Google Translation There's a large copper mine in Superior. That's why the town is there.IMG_0336
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That's a powre sub-station.
Google Translation That's a powre sub-station.IMG_0362
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That's a small mining operation.
Google Translation That's a small mining operation.IMG_0364
An even smaller mine.
Google Translation An even smaller mine.IMG_0365
That road us US 60. It will take you to the Phoenix area. I'll be driving on that road to get home after this hike.
Google Translation That road us US 60. It will take you to the Phoenix area. I'll be driving on that road to get home after this hike.IMG_0366
Picketpost Mountain.
Google Translation Picketpost Mountain.IMG_0367
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There are two vehicles parked down there. If you zoom in you might see people walking around. I think they had gone out there to do some target shooting.
Google Translation There are two vehicles parked down there. If you zoom in you might see people walking around. I think they had gone out there to do some target shooting.IMG_0370
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The Superstition Mountains can be seen on the horizon.
Google Translation The Superstition Mountains can be seen on the horizon.IMG_0374
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The smelter at the mine.
Google Translation The smelter at the mine.IMG_0377_8_9Enhancer
There are more cairns over there, but I had to turn back. I didn't want to be out here after sunset. I wasn't familiar with the area and it looked like there were black bears around.
Google Translation There are more cairns over there, but I had to turn back. I didn't want to be out here after sunset. I wasn't familiar with the area and it looked like there were black bears around.IMG_0380_1_2Enhancer
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Almost back to my truck.
Google Translation Almost back to my truck.IMG_0409_10_11Enhancer
One last picture, of an agave.
Google Translation One last picture, of an agave.
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