Arizona Trail: Picketpost Trailhead to Roosevelt Lake

March 3:

Mile 300.5 to 312

Up: about 1800 feet

Down: about 800 feet

We touristed for two days.  Climbed Picketpost Mountain one day (YES!) and visited Boyce Thompson Arboretum the second(yes).  We also drove to Roosevelt lake to drop off our motorcycle for the shuttle back later.

We awake  ready to go. Rolling hike all day with the ever looming Picketpost Mountain falling slowly from view in our rear view mirror. 

 Lower Whitford Canyon is wonderful.  Lots of red rocks, fresh lime green cottonwood leaves on white barked trees while hummingbirds buzz us as they move  from ocotillo blooms. 

We camp a few miles above the Reavis Canyon trailhead.  There is water at what’s called mud trough and some small pools in the creek.  We are camping near water whenever possible on the AZT,  as it makes life easier.  Water is life and water is heavy. 

March 4

Mile 312 to 325.9

Last night was warm with a cover of clouds. I was up a lot! Bladder issues. Ugh!  I drink a lot of water all day and hope that flushes the pipes clean.  

We leave camp by 8 and start on a climb under cloudy skies across a barren land.  I believe we have over a 2000 foot climb  in about 3.5 miles to the saddle of The  Montana Mountain.  Which means Mountain Mountain. Lol!  The trail rarely  uses switchbacks, but just goes directly  up the ridge.  We meet  four folks coming down the trail hiking the GET, Grand Enchantment Trail, and we talk a bit.  The GET and AZT are one and the same in this area.  

I decide I want to go to the top of the mountain and drag Hawkeye along, only I go west, when I should have gone east.  Lovely view, but not the top.  Returning to the saddle I go east up the ridge, while Hawkeye continues on the trail.  He’s had enough of my sightseeing.  I make it to the top and then just walk down the ridge and back to Hawkeye on the trail, which now is actually on a dirt road with a bunch of retirees out driving their off road vehicles.  We wave and smile.  

Coming into the Superstitions is a treat, as I’ve always been intrigued by the name and some of the legends surrounding them.   

As I walk I think of the Apache legend that has the entrance to hell located in these mountains and many tales of activity of Apache spirits roaming  the land. There is also a legend of little people, called Tuar Tums who live in the earth and protect these sacred lands. The most well known story is of the Lost Dutchman Mine and of all who have lost their lives in strange ways while trying to find it.  

Walking along Roger’s Creek we can see a really cool canyon with lots of strange rock formations.  I am intrigued and then disappointed that our trail does not go that way.  If you blow up this photo and look closely, there is a rock formation that looks like a dog guarding the canyon. 

We have one more big climb of over a thousand feet, across a heavily burned area, on what seems like a goat trail, before we drop into the Reavis Creek drainage. 

Hawkeye finds Medusa.   She looks like she has been through many fires, but after this last fire, she is barely hanging on. Of course, it could just be old age.  She is thought to be 800 years old. Oh, the stories she could tell.  (I love to personify!)

Here I now sit at the old Reavis Ranch homestead with the remains of a house and discarded 1930’s or 40’s hay equipment laying around.  There are lots of camp sites available, but nobody is here but us.  It’s peaceful and I wonder about those who once called this place home. 

It is written that in the late 1800’s , Elisha Marcus Reavis, called this place home.  He planted apple trees and raised vegetables and livestock for sustenance and to sell.  He was also called the ‘Madman of the Superstitions, as he did not cut his hair or beard and was known to run nude through the canyons carrying knives and shooting off his gun.  It is said the apaches left him alone because of this.  Those who knew him claimed his home was full of books and he was an intelligent man who just liked living a hermit life.  After he died near Roger’s Canyon in 1896, the land was taken over by others, but the initial homesteader name stuck and it’s called Reavis Ranch still today.  

 

The shadows are growing long and I see some gentle eyed does grazing on the little snips of green beneath the bleached out grass from last summer.  Deer have always called this place home.  And for tonight, so do we. 

March 5

Mile 325.9 - 340.4

Ups- plenty

Downs- plenty

We made it out of the Superstition Wilderness! Barely.  We didn’t have any close encounters with Apache spirits, but the rocks on the trail tripped us plenty.  I’m footsore and smiling a bit less than when we entered yesterday, but alive to tell the tale.

Froze during the night.  Our tent ices over and the ground turns white.  I know this because of the many trips out of the tent to pee!  Thankfully,  a warm, desert wind blows ferociously in the wee hours of morning and dries everything out before we get up to start our day.   

We hear the wind coming all day, and then, bam, it blasts us.  It blows me sideways a few times.  It is invigorating and I feel like I am getting pushed by invisible hands. Spirits, perhaps?!  Lol!  

We take Reavis Gap trail out of the ranch area.  It is a little tricky to find with all the social trails in the prairie, but after a bit of searching we find the right trail.  

Looking back at the gap.

The Gap Trail is rocky, but not too steep.  Enjoyable.  Rocks, trees,  and eye stretching views.  Just the way we like it.  Then we turn onto Two Bar Trail.  ( Cue the ominous music).  We soon pick up water at Walnut Springs and then the trail tests our mettle.  It is very  steep up and very steep down and full of round rocks of various sizes that roll under foot. Hawkeye starts calling it the Two Bird Trail, showing his appreciation with one finger from each hand.  One bird for the up and one for the down.  

There isn’t very many switchbacks and if we don’t watch the rocks, we roll.   Rock and Roll!  We both fall down and learn early on to keep our eyes on the trail. No more eye stretching views for us, unless we stop walking. So,  I grow fond of all the pretty colored rocks.  Pick up a few small ones for the grandsons.  We cross paths with a couple hikers struggling like us and see a lone, beautiful flower. 

The wind later becomes  our friend, as it cools us off.  See we are smiling, although I’m not sure it reaches our eyes.  It is a tough day and I’m feeling sub par after being up so much during the night. 

I wobble a bit on the last big climb to the high point for the day and Hawkeye is worried.   I feel strange.  I suck on a cherry jolly rancher and wake up enough to finish the climb. It’s a doozy of a climb.  For us anyways.  

After the high point, it is all downhill and it feels good.  We are now at Cottonwoods Springs and it’s lovely.  We will eat, drink and fall blissfully asleep under the watchful eyes of cottonwoods and saguaros.  

March 6:

Mile 340.4 to Mile 345.3

Short downhill hike to Roosevelt Lake under sunny morning skies.  We meet a hiker coming up the trail and we feel sorry for him as he has quite the climb.  I now sit at the RV camp while Hawkeye drives the bike back to get our truck at Picketpost Trailhead.  

Roosevelt Lake

This might be the end of our AZT hike this year, as my urinary symptoms have progressed and we will need to find a medical clinic ASAP.