Black Top Mesa - Superstition Mountains

Black Top Mesa is a prominent geologic feature formed by volcanic activity approximately 3 to 25 million years ago. It is characterized by a dark basalt cap over layers of welded tuff. This, and the surrounding area, is a complex volcanic caldera system.

This was during the Miocene Epoch when Arizona was undergoing dramatic transformation, transitioning from a high flat, upland into the characteristic Basin and Range landscape. Active volcanism was widespread and massive faults were stretching and breaking the crust with large mountains forming and valleys dropping.

I started my hike at the First Water Trailhead at 9:26 AM. From there it took me 1 hour to reach Parker Pass on the Dutchman Trail. That was 2.5 miles. From there it was 1.7 miles to the junction of Black Mesa Trail. Then it was 0.3 miles to the junction of Bull Pass Trail. This trail is 4.5 miles from the trailhead. It took me 2 hours to get there. Next was the Black Top Mesa junction which would take me to the summit. That was about a half mile. Then it was 0.7 miles to the top. At 12:35 PM, I stood on the summit. It had taken me 3 hours and 10 minutes to get there. At that point, I was 5.8 miles from the trailhead. At 1:00 PM, I headed back down to the Bull Pass Trail, and continued hiking a loop around Black Top Mesa. I again reached the junction of Bull Pass Trail at 3:11 PM. I was now at 10.4 miles, and I had been hiking for 5 hours and 43 minutes. Then I continued to follow the Dutchman Trail back to my van. At 5:05 PM, I was back at my car. My hike was 15 miles, and it took me 7 hours and 37 minutes.

Tom's Thumb - McDowell Mountains

Tom's Thumb is a prominent 140-foot tall Proterozoic granite monolith, formed roughly 1.4 billion years ago. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this quartz-monzonite intrusion stands out due to differential erosion, showcasing jagged, blocky terrain that contrasts with the smoother surrounding metamorphic rocks.

This was during the Proterozoic Eon, when Arizona was a newly welded part of the North American continent, dominated by intense geological activity, magma intrusions, and widespread erosion. It was a largely barren landscape, potentially covered by shallow inland seas, with no complex life, featuring significant volcanic activity and early sedimentary basin formation.

I started my hike at the Gateway Trailhead at 8:10 AM.  From there it was 2.6 miles to the junction of Windgate Pass. That took me 57 minutes. At that point I was beginning Tom's Thumb Trail. Then it was 3 miles to Tom's Thumb. I reached the base of Tom's Thumb at 10:45 AM. It had taken me 2 hours 34 minutes from the Gateway Trailhead, and that was 5.6 miles. Then I hiked about a half mile to the East End Trail. After hiking the East End Trail for 1.5 miles I arrived at the Bell Pass Junction at 12:04 PM. When I got to Bell Pass I took a break to rest my very tired feet. That was 1.4 miles from the last trail junction. It had taken me 48 minutes. Then I was hiking the final 3.4 miles back to my van. It was 2:23 PM when I returned to the Gateway Trailhead. My loop hike was 12.5 miles, and it took me 6 hours and 11 minutes.

 

The Ballantine Trail - Mazatzal Mountains

I started my 12.1 mile round-trip hike at 8:06 AM, on the Pine Creek Trail. After 33 minutes I reached the junction of the Ballantine Trail. From there it was 2.1 miles to Boulder Flat. I got there at 10:10 AM. It had taken me 2 hours and 4 minutes to get there from the trailhead. From there it was 1.8 miles to the loop junction of an unnamed trail. I got there at 11:45 AM. After hiking 6.1 miles counterclockwise on the loop I turned back. The trail was taking too long. It was 12:30 PM, when I started back after a short break. I got back to Boulder Flat at 2:20 PM, and then I reached my car at 4:09 PM. My hike took me 8 hours and 4 minutes.