Superstition Mountains and Mineral Mountains

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 After resting for a day at Roosevelt Lake I climbed up Cottonwood Canyon to get into the Superstition Mountains. 

Good Bye, Roosevelt Lake!

There were still trees (although a large portion of the area burned in 2019), but the vegetation was more and more dominated by cacti and other desert plants.

Saguaro “Forest”

The trail conditions and water situation remained challenging and I had adjusted my mileage goals per day, so I wouldn’t run out of supplies. The overgrown trail took its toll and my legs and hands got cut up a little more every day. Haymaker, a fellow thru-hiker who I met at Roosevelt, wrote in the trail register: “Destination: Mexico, if I still have enough skin left.”

Superstition Mountains 

After leaving the Superstitions, I entered an area that is part of the Sonoran Desert. I was greeted by three large rattlesnakes. I saw them very late (both, the snakes and I jumped backwards) and there was definitely no time for pictures, but the encounters made me hike a little slower to have a bit more reaction time.

Grass on the trail = Snakes on the trail

I went on hiking the beautiful Mineral Mountains. The Arizona Trail was recently rerouted in this area and the new trail was spectacular! 

Good Morning!

Great views, much better trail maintenance and, best of all, the Arizona Trail Association installed a rain water collector in an otherwise extremely dry segment of the trail. 

Life Saver

These kind of views were my main motivation to hike the Arizona Trail. 

Mineral Mountains 

It was getting hotter as a heat wave formed in the area. Afternoon temperatures reached upper 90s F in the shade and it became very difficult to hike during these hours. 

 Beautiful, But No Shade

When I reached the Gila River I resorted to night hiking to escape the worst of the heat. I was happy to reach the small town of Kearny where I stayed for a night in a hotel room with air conditioning to recuperate. I won’t take another zero day here, but it has been nice to take a break from the heat.

The Only Way Is Up!


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