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Arizona Trailblazers
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Black Mesa Day Hike
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A couple of us were veterans of the Wasson Peak hike two weeks
earlier and were hoping and praying that we were not going to see
a repeat performance of the severe thunderstorms we encountered on
the trail that day on the way back down from the peak. We briefly
study the trail map, take another look at the dull, gray skies,
and move out onto the trail — hoping the weather will
eventually clear off for today's hike.
Water flowing in the desert is always a special treat and an unexpected bonus of springtime hiking in the Sonoran Desert, especially with the prolonged drought Arizona has been suffering for the past several years. The abundant rains of this past winter that are now continuing into spring have turned normally bone-dry creekbeds and washes into seemingly permanent flowing water courses, with new plant life springing up along the edges and thick mats of floating algae drifting along on the surface of the water. We soak in the experience and enjoy it while we can, realizing that in a matter of weeks, as the scorching summer heat of the desert sets in, all of this water will evaporate or sink back into the ground, leaving the washes and creekbeds dry and parched once again. |
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Hiking southeast on the Dutchman's Trail for the first several
miles, we encounter intermittent light rain showers, as seen on
the surface of this calm pool of water reflecting the dull gray
skies overhead. This is actually ideal hiking weather — a
rare day in the Superstitions without the often merciless sun
beating down on us. The temperature remains at a steady 60°-
65° throughout the day, and our main concern is watching our
footing on the often slippery rocks. On a warm, sunny day this pool
would be an ideal location to sit down, remove hiking boots and socks,
and soak our hot, tired feet for a few minutes. On this cool and
damp morning in March we merely pause for few moments, take a few
pictures, and move on — hoping to find an equally scenic
location for lunch in another hour or so.
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Blue lupine, Indian paintbrush, desert chicory, and yellow
brittlebush are thriving on this rocky slope and along much of the
Black Mesa Loop, courtesy of ideal rainfall and temperature
conditions during the fall and winter months and continuing into
the spring. In contrast, the wildflower displays of the last few
years in the lower Arizona deserts have been especially bleak, due
to prolonged drought conditions throughout much of the Southwest.
Now a riot of colors is spreading out across the Sonoran Desert,
as millions of long dormant seeds spring to life and paint the
landscape in the vibrant colors of a spectacular Arizona spring
in the desert.
After climbing almost 400 feet, the Black Mesa Trail tops out on Black Mesa, noted for its vast expanse of cholla cactus. One of the largest and thickest cholla forests in the Sonoran Desert occupies a large portion of Black Mesa. Looming through the mist over the cholla tops, Weavers Needle stands out against a backdrop of thick cloud cover. |
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Having hiked about six miles to this point,
we decide to break for lunch and locate a few handy boulders a safe
distance from the prickly cholla cactus. Often referred to as
"jumping cholla" because of the surprising ease with
which the cholla joints attach themselves to the unwary passer by,
virtually every desert hiker eventually has a tale or two of woe
to share concerning a painfully close encounter with these rather
sticky species of the cholla family.
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A rather motley group of Black Mesa hikers pauses in front of a false
mine entrance at Tortilla Flat, where we enjoy a lunch of killer chili
and burgers, followed by a leisurely walk around this picturesque
little desert community located on the Apache Trail a few miles from
Canyon Lake. That brings to mind the story of the Great Texas Chili
Cook-Off, but perhaps we had better leave that one for a different
time and a different place. Suffice it to say that the killer chili
at Tortilla Flat is almost hot enough to burn your lips off, cause
smoke to puff out of your ears, tears to pour from your eyes, and
create an immediate urge to pour vast quantities of ice-cold liquid
down your throat to douse the flames.
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| Home | Club Info | Officers | Meeting Minutes | Activities | Trip Reports | | Hike Descriptions | Trip Planning Guide | Lessons Learned | Links | Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club, Phoenix, Arizona For comments regarding this site contact . Updated July 14, 2005 |