Siphon Draw to Flat Iron 1-24-2011

Colleen Hunt, June Storment & Judy Eidson

Counting down on the last few hikes left to do in the Superstitions. Not sure why I left this for last , other than I focus normally on backpack trips, & at the time thanking the good lord that I did not have a pack on this trip. It was a beautiful day, with rabbits, birds singing. We entered in at Lost Dutchman State Park, but next time will go in from Mc Kellips St. A fairly easy hike up to the slick rock where we started to see more people, as they must of started at dawn, no water at the waterfall but I could see it would be beautiful if you could time it right. Once we got to the saddle we now could see where the DRAW comes in at, a very steep, rocky ravine, the Flat Iron looked so far away. There was really only one obstacle & was lucky to have 3 people coming down & gave us a boost up. Once we got to the top it was a piece of cake, beautiful dessert up there with every thing so green & healthy looking. We had lunch on the tip of Flat Iron with the birthday boy Ben, he had told us that he & a friend had to be rescued last yr when they did the death march across the top. He was fine but got lost on a wrong trail & took them much longer so had to spend the night. His wife did what all good responsible people do & called sheriff as he did not come home. He had met Colleen coming in as she was turning around. She had a ankle fused earlier in the year, & had done this trip many times before so her map was already highlighted. We had a nice visit, lunch, break & was ready to head down.

Peralta Trail Loop, Whiskey Springs, LaBarge, Charliebois, Bluff Springs

Nancy, Connie, June & Judy backpacked 1-15 to17 2011

21 miles backpack, 40 to 70 degrees

1 ½ hr from N. Pnx, 169 miles

Water started to show up near Whiskey Springs, we planned on camping near LaBarge Springs, but to many people so we continued until Oak Springs. 10 miles of course, rocky terrain, but we were glad we continued on as we had a private campsite with good water. Two days from a full moon, so it was like the lights were on all night. Once again, did not fine the petroglyphs near Peters Mesa & Charliebois. Sirena was doing this part of the G.E.T. when a day hiker came through & showed her where they were at, obviously I did not get good enough info as lonely saguaro cactus & cross section did not show up any pet’s. So a good reason to go back again, as I never get tired of the Superstitions. We had a nice fire, owls hooting a Mr Skunk visit us through the night, other than that no wildlife other than the many birds that sang to us. I brought a happy hour snack called Tasty Bite-Punjab Eggplant with chips that was good, June & Nancy dessert, & Connie Laughing Cow cheese & crackers, so we were all happy! The next day was a 7 miles trip out through Bluff Springs. We stopped off for a fill up before continuing on to Peralta Trailhead. Someday would like to visit Williams Camp in the area.

Great trip, but no trip into the Superstition Wilderness is complete without the jumping cholla making a mark on 1 or 2 of us. More people than normal, maybe do to MLK Holiday.

Nancy Vail, Nicole, & Judy Eidson did the  in Nov, Proceedes went to Pnx Parks & Recreation. 
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