Fly back into Phoenix and head out to Lost Dutchman State Park.
The Park is pretty quiet and the view is nice.
We have some fuzzy neighbors . . . some cute . . .
others, not so much . . . .
While Jacob Waltz a German immigrant was lying on his death bed, he told a story of a gold mine that held untold riches. He had said that it laid deep within the Salt River Mountains of the Arizona territory. Since the time of the Dutchman's death, the treasure hunters have came in search of this elusive mine. Some have left poorer than when they had arrived, while others never left at all. Some say that you can still hear the ones that died picking at the rocks, on a silent desert night.
Maybe they should have just looked at the end of the rainbow!
Gary rolls up his sleeves - he's up to the task
It seems like a easy hike.
Didn't find the gold on the Treasure Trail so maybe it's hidden deep in the Mountains, we decide to do the Siphon Draw trail, a 4 mile round trip hike up to the Flat Iron (center of the pic).
Should be a piece of cake!
I think I made a wrong turn!
Looks like smooth sailing from here.
A steady uphill climb
That's the Flat Iron on the right
We've come a long way Baby!
and what a view!
What goes up must come down! This was a little bit of a bottleneck!
Don't worry Hon! I'll catch you if you slip!
We started out just before Noon and made it back just in time for the sunset
But we had a howlin good time!
On November 23rd, a small aircraft crashed into the Mountain just below the Flat Iron killing all 6 on board, a man his 3 children, pilot and Mechanic. We had noted how low planes were flying as we hiked up. Apparently the FAA lowered the flight path to 5,000 ft from 8000 ft for small aircraft to allow for more commercial traffic through the Phoenix Airport, Superstition Mts. are 5,000 ft. Very sad.
