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Black Mesa Day Hike
Superstition Wilderness
February 6, 2010
by Cyd Cassel
  Trail Map 

From finding Fool’s Gold to unofficially naming a junction, the Black Mesa Loop hike was fine and fun. We started with eight hikers and ended with seven. Nothing eventful happened. One hiker only wanted to hike to the top of Black Mesa then turned back as planned.

group
Ajay, Cyd, Hely, David, Wendy, Eileen, Debbie. [photo by Ted Tenny]

The junction of Second Water Trail and Dutchman’s trail has been unofficially named as the “Van Hagar Junction”.

When our book, Tales From the Trails of Arizona is published, you can read Cyd’s story of “Van Hagar and the Dash up Boulder Canyon” to find the significance of this unofficial naming.

trail
Mazatzals in the distance. [Cyd Cassel photo]
rilles
Ted scouting Weaver’s Needle. [Ajay Kak photo]

The day was perfect for hiking. It was overcast and cloudy mixed with occasional sun and in the sixties.

If I had one complaint, it would be that it was humid (how we people from back east do NOT miss humidity is often overlooked).

The group stopped for lunch at a newly discovered Picnic Palace overlooking Palomino Mountain with Weaver’s Needle in the distance.

The view was phenomenal.

Palomino
Black Top Mesa and Palomino Mountain. [Ted Tenny photo]
claim
Fool’s Gold Mining Stake. [Cyd]

While we were there, Cyd found some Fool’s gold and placed her claim with her hiking stick.

After lunch, we met several backpackers and hikers down in Boulder Basin then we proceeded back to the trailhead.

We crossed First Water Creek five times, West Boulder Canyon once and then two tributaries.

The desert was blessed with much water and many water crossings. Some of us could not resist playing in the water.

tranquil
A tranquil pool marks our First Water Creek crossing. [Ted]
Wendy
Wendy at Creek. [Ajay Kak photo]
Eileen
Eileen at Creek. [Wendy Rennert photo]
clouds
Wagon Wheel Clouds. [Wendy Rennert photo]

Just as we left the trailhead, it started to sprinkle.

Our timing was just right.


Supplemental Report
by Ted Tenny

Cyd Cassel led a Trailblazers hike on the Black Mesa Loop on a cool, partly cloudy day. We stopped for lunch on a ridge overlooking Boulder Basin, with a panoramic view of the mountains on all sides.

Wendy Rennert was appointed the official photographer, but I snapped away.

hikers
Eileen and Wendy lead the way. [photo by Ted]
hikers
Black Mesa, here we come! [photo by Ted]
mountain
Yellow Peak. [photo by Ted]
view
Great view from the Black Mesa Trail. [photo by Ted]
view
Erosion has taken its toll. [photo by Ted]
view
Black Top Mesa, Palomino Mountain, and Weaver’s Needle. [photo by Ted]
lichens
Bright lichens on a rock. [photo by Ted]
mesa
The south end of Black Mesa. [photo by Ted]
water
Boulder Basin. [photo by Ted]
hikers
Fine view of Weaver’s Needle from the trail. [photo by Ted]
rock
Apache Gap Mountain. [photo by Ted]
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Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club, Phoenix, Arizona
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updated May 17, 2020