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Black Mesa Loop Day Hike
Superstition Wilderness
February 2, 2013
by Dave French

Bill and Ted’s

First Water Trailhead welcomes 14 terrific Trailblazers:
Ted, Wendy, Mike, Cathy, Dave, John, Scott, Jim, Anikó, Dottie, Cyd, Donna, Chuck, John

Superstition Wilderness signs are getting fancy.

Plenty of water in First Water Creek.

Dave finds ancient petroglyphs. [photo by Ted]

Twenty Arizona Trailblazers and guests arrived at the First Water Trailhead in the Superstition Wilderness between 8:30 and 9:00 on February 2. It was a beautiful day with the high temperature in the 70s. We had prearranged to split into two groups.

The National Forest Service limits any one group of hikers to 15. Six brave hikers left with Wildman Zimm and headed clockwise around the Black Mesa Loop but had two significant trail departures. More on that toward the end of the report.

The other 14 hikers headed out on the Dutchman’s Trail and proceeded about 4 miles to the junction with the Black Mesa Trail. A NFS ranger took the group picture at the trailhead.

Some hoodoos are on the Superstition Ridgeline; others are nearby.


Stepping stones help us get across First Water Creek and then West Boulder Creek.

First Water Creek is flowing freely. [photo by Ted]

Due to heavy rains the previous weekend, all the creeks had running water. We crossed seven wet creeks along the way. All required a little boulder hopping but there were no adverse or comical incidents.

We found many hoodoos along the way and ancient pictographs.

After about two hours of hiking we reached the top of Parker Pass and rested among the boulders.

Parker Pass is a good place to stop for a break.

We meet equestrians as the big climb begins.

As we approached the trail junction with Black Mesa Trail (the southeast-most point of our hike), we met the other group of hikers who were proceeding in the opposite direction. We had lunch here and waiting for all the members of our party to arrive. We proceeded to cross West Boulder Creek a second time and immediately met a party of equestrians, for whom we politely stepped aside. We proceeded northwest on the Black Mesa Trail and began the long steep climb up to Black Mesa.

In an article I read, it advised that this climb was easier to go up than down. I agree.

Equestrians stop to water their horses in West Boulder Creek. [photo by Ted]

Along the way we had good views of Weaver’s Needle, Black Top Mesa and many other beautiful and interesting rock formations.

Weaver’s Needle from the Dutchman’s Trail.

Weaver’s Needle from the Black Mesa Trail.

On-trail and off-trail hikers meet at the junction.

We reached the junction with the Second Water Trail (the end of the Black Mesa Trail) and proceeded south back to the trailhead. As we got close to the last stream crossing, we heard the familiar hoot from the Wildman Zimm group. Amazingly we arrived at this junction at the same time. We all proceeded up to the First Water Trailhead and some welcomed and well-deserved refreshments and rest.

Ted snaps away:
Fred Fungus + Alice Algae = lichen	Not an owl, but a crested saguaro.

Garden Valley Arch from the Black Mesa Trail.

Saguaros and Teddy Bears herald our approach to First Water Ranch.

First Water saguaros bask in the late afternoon sun.

When we arrived at the parking lot there were two MCSO vehicles, and soon a helicopter landed. We found out that a hiker was way overdue for arrival so they were starting a search. At the time of this writing, I do not know the end result.

Search and Rescue.

Relax at the Hitching Post.

Sixteen hikers proceeded to the Hitching Post Bar and Restaurant for some drinks and light meal. They had live musical entertainment and specialized in chicken. After all, it is across the road from the famous but abandoned “chicken sign’.

Chicken Sign. [photo by Ted]

Who knows what we’ll find?

Supplemental Report:
Black Mesa Bushwhack
by Bill Zimmermann

GPS Map

by Bill Zimmermann

Ajay, Vern, Eileen, Bill, Lori, and Quy enjoy their wild off-trail adventure. [photo by Bill]

It’s a big rock climb. [photo by Ajay]

Quy, Eileen, Lori, AJ and Vern joined Bill as “The Clockwise Hikers”.

At “E0” we left the trail for rock hopping in the creek.

At “E1” we headed up several four to seven foot climbable waterfalls at one of Bills favorite spots.

Ajay, king of the mountain.

The climb to “BS1” was steep as we dodged the prickly ones. We followed the ridgeline southeast until we connected with the trail at “TXZ1”, a shortcut in distance only.

Twisty saguaro marks the climb to Black Mesa. [photo by Bill]

Come on, folks, we’re halfway up there. [photo by Ajay]

At the Dutchman’s-Black Mesa intersection we met the first group of the counterclockwise hikers. We said our hellos and kept going. We met two other groups as we continued. Our visits were short, as Bill knew it would be much slower going when we would leave the trail at “TXZ”.

Shortly after we left the trail we took our lunch break. At “E5” we joined the creek. At the double arch the shutterbugs went into action. We continued rock-hopping down the creek until we connected with the trail at “E0”. Six days after the rains water was still trickling, leaving large pools. However it lacked the vigor Bill experienced last Tuesday when he hiked upstream.