After driving through the winding roads of the active Pinto Mine, sixteen hikers start out on Haunted Canyon Trail #203 at 8:45 AM, but quickly get separated into groups:

It is a beautiful day and after the rain. There is even some water in the creek after the mine road.

We are about three miles into the hike when lo and behold, here comes Doug, making our total number 17 now. Seems he overslept but still managed to catch up with us.

Did I hear “Late night at Rooster’s?”

Ted, Debbie and Ray decide to take a lunch break after 4 1/2 miles.

The rest of us trudge on until we happen to catch up with the fast group who are taking a break alongside the opposite side of the creek bed.

At 12:15 we stop to discuss the turnoff to Tony Ranch.

Cyd and Eileen have been on this trail before, although it’s been a few years, and are questioning each other.

Did we already pass it? Is it up ahead?

John and Dorothy decide to head back, but the rest of us decide we will keep going until 1:00 PM before we give up.

So we continue on, and to our delight we see two familiar hikers heading our way, Jenni and Sam! They tell us that we are only 15 minutes away so with renewed vigor we head on down the trail.

We get to the cabin and meet up with the faster group — they are just leaving as we arrive.

We have lunch, take pictures and head back, thrilled that we found the cabin!

Hikers are again separated on the way back, some without radios.

But everyone stays on the trail, walks at their own pace, and arrives safely at the trailhead.

No one noticed the arch at the trailhead when we started, but it becomes a topic of conversation as the early arrivals wait for the rest of us.

Arriving back to the cars around 4:00 PM, David advises us that we have hiked 12 miles.

How about dinner and cerveza at Los Hermanos in Superior to refuel? Sounds like a plan! Everyone enjoys a “Superior” dinner on the way home.