Superstition Ridgeline Trail - Apache Junction

This was a long, rugged 10.2 mile hike along a faint trail through cactus, agaves, and shrubs.  It took me 10 hours and 18 minutes.

Tarantula - Apache Junction, AZ

Within 10 minutes of heading up the Siphon Draw Trail, I spotted a tarantula. I love seeing these timid creatures.

 

Temptation Peak - Goldfield Mountains

Temptation Peak is located in the Goldfield Mountains north of Apache Junction. The hike and climb to the 3,195 foot summit of Temptation Peak was 3.9 miles round-trip and took me 5 hours and 26 minutes. First, it was a 1.4 mile hike to the Bulldog Saddle which took 44 minutes, and from there I headed east up to Ironwood Ridge. Then it was a little over a half mile to the summit. But this section of off-trail hiking and scrambling across loose rock took about 1 hour and 45 minutes. It took me 2 hours and 32 minutes to reach the summit from the trailhead. On the way down I took a more direct route to avoid most of the scree.

Temptation Peak on the Ironwood Ridge.

 

Me on the 3,195 foot summit.

The view from the summit.

The view from the summit.

Temptation Peak

Temptation Peak

Temptation Peak

Temptation Peak

Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness - New Mexico

The Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness is roughly 60 square miles of remote badlands. It is a jumbled layer of sandstone, mudstone, shale and coal that has lay undisturbed for 50 million years.

My hike into the badlands was 9.9 miles and took me 6 hours with an elevation gain of about 160 feet.

The Chocolate Hoodoos

My 9.9 mile hike.