Sagebrush Trails – Page 112 – Sagebrush personal hiking blog

Superstition Wilderness

AZT 2020 Day 15, March 23, Monday
Start mile 320.6 on Reavis Ranch Trail (passage19mile1.6)
End mile 342.4 forest road 341 (passage19mile23.5)
Miles walked: 21.8

Today the route continued to cross back and forth across streams, often wet-foot crossings because the water is so high or the bank is washed out. But I don’t want to include a picture of that, so here is a cool rocky bluff characteristic of the Superstitions.

The trail condition today is unusually rugged, with plenty of large rocks, poor drainage, mud, and PUDs (pointless ups-and-downs). Or maybe this is the new normal? We will see tomorrow. I could not make my usual mileage today– it was tough going, guys.

Reavis

AZT 2020 Day 14, March 22, Sunday
Start Picketpost Trailhead mile 300.5 (passage17mile11.7), and then trail angel ride into town
End mile 320.6 on Reavis Ranch Trail (passage19mile1.6)
Miles walked: 20.1

Trail angel MJ brings me back to the trailhead after a substancial breakfast, and hiking starts around 9.

Our route goes up Reavis Canyon, crossing the stream several times.

Superior Views

AZT 2020 Day 13, March 21, Saturday
Start mile 272.5 along Gila River (passage16mile10)
End Picketpost Trailhead mile 300.5 (passage17mile11.7), and then trail angel ride into town
Miles walked: 28

The trees at the bottom of Gila River Canyon, manzanita and willow and some mesquite, are not very green yet like the canyon walls. Perhaps it is the types of trees, or maybe they get less sunlight until the sun goes higher in the season.

The route leaves the Gila River and starts climbing into some truly splendid high canyons. The route is different than on the Grand Enchantment Trail, which explains why it all seems new to me.