Ruins at Chalk Canyon - Cave Creek

I hiked about 9 miles round trip out to the Hohokam ruins on top of a 300 foot high mesa over looking Cave Creek.  The ruins and petroglyphs are west of the trail about a half mile, and I spent about a half hour looking for the remains of the ancient village. I always enjoy searching for seldom seen ruins and petroglyphs. The challenge keeps my brain busy.

Cave Creek

Petroglyphs on the rock.

Petroglyphs on the rock.

Petroglyphs on the rock.

Hohokam Ruins

New River Road Campsite

This is where I camp on New River Road near Lake Pleasant, and it's only 11 miles from my job at Walmart in Peoria, Arizona. It's quiet, and nobody ever drives near me. The desert evenings are peaceful and I always read until midnight before going to sleep. Then I rise with the morning sun. My bed is in the back of my Honda CRV, and it evolves on a daily basis, as I try to make it more comfortable. It's pretty comfortable now, but I'm still trying make it better. Last week my air mattress had started leaking so I bought some lawn chair cushions from Walmart, and now I am filling in the gaps and dips with towels and foam mattress toppers shaped into strategic pieces. It's uneven and lumpy but getting better, and I sleep good.

Governor's Peak - Hell's Canyon

Hell's Canyon is located in Arizona near Lake Pleasant. The trail is easy to follow until you drop down into Four Tanks Canyon. After that, once you begin to ascend Governors Peak, the trail is overgrown and can be difficult to follow, but rock cairns frequently mark the route.  The trail is 6 miles round trip.

The false peak.

The false peak.

Governors Peak on the left.

Governors Peak

Governors Peak

The view from Governors Peak

Camp Creek Falls - The Blue Wash

I love visiting this spring-fed waterfall in the small box canyon. Usually there are very few people here or nobody at all. This little oasis in the Sonoran Desert is a great place to relax, but I scramble all over the place doing photography. Taking photos gets my mind off my OCD, and relieves my depression. I focus on the waterfall instead of my OCD.  For these photos I came at sunset. It's an easy 2.8 mile round trip hike, and I walked out in the dark. I love hiking at night in the desert.

Superstition Peak 5057 - Superstition Mountains

This was a very challenging route going up the South Ascent of Superstition Peak. I didn't encounter a single person along the faint and unmaintained trail. It wasn't until I was on the summit that I encountered another person ascending from the easier Ridgeline route.

Superstition Peak 5057

Superstition Peak 5057

Weaver's Needle

Me on the summit.

Weaver's Needle

Superstition Peak 5057

Hieroglyphic Canyon

Hieroglyphic Canyon

Hieroglyphic Canyon

Superstition Peak 5057

My route

Boulder Canyon Trail - Superstition Mountains

Boulder Canyon Trail is an 8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Tortilla Flat. This was an amazing hike through Boulder Canyon out to Battleship Mountain with an incredible view of the Four Peaks covered in snow.

Battleship Mountain

The Four Peaks

Weaver's Needle on the horizon.

The Four Peaks

The Four Peaks