Treasure Loop Trail #56 Sunset Photos

This is a good old standby for the dogs and I, as it only takes about an hour if the INFP with the camera doesn't get too distracted.

Here is the "trail head".  I love the cool wooden fence entrance.

Since we started out at about 5:45 pm, there weren't too many other peeps on the trail so the dogs got some "off leash time".

Foxy Fast Feet!

Right away Buddy went poop that was runny and yellow and got all over his butt, EEEEEWWW!  I didn't take pictures of that. THEN, when we got close to the parking lot, again, it was Buddy causing trouble, he found some jumping cholla cactus nubs and he flung one up onto me on the back of my leg! OUCH.  Then I had to pull the other one out of his paw.  Geesh!  Yet, he looks so innocent in this picture below.

"I have yellow Poo on my tail and butt"

The view up is AMAZING!!  I love my 'Stitions.  I hugz them.  You can see the trail winding up toward the base of the "bluffs".

This picture was taken about halfway up.  I want to go back after it rains sometime in the next few months, wildflowers blanket the area after a rain I'm told.

Here the sun is starting to set, this is about 3/4 of the way to the highest point on the trail.

As usual, it started to get dark so we had to hurry back to the parking lot, but once again, we got an AWESOME sunset, with some AWESOME shots!

This was one of the infamous Arizona sunsets, I can't believe I was able to get these colors on camera!

 

Here is a shot of the sun setting over the city-scape of Apache Junction/Mesa.

Foxy popping over a small incline on the trail.  I'm so excited that the colors came through in the photos!

Here is a sunset cactus!  This cactus has a lot of character...if it hadn't been so dark, I would have hugged him. 

Siphon Draw Trail #53

Siphon Draw Trail #53

The Siphon Draw Trail is a trail that begins in the Lost Dutchman State Park that I broke down and bought an annual pass for...because I love the 'Stitions!  Here is the path from Google Earth.

  

The dogs and I started out around 2:30 (we're not morning glories).   I figured this would be more than enough time to make the 3.9 mile trip before dark but....well...we didn't make it up to the flat iron (which is 5.8 round trip).

I mean what's the point of running up a mountain and back down without taking some breaks to enjoy the scenery??  Click here to see all the pictures from the hike!

The 'Stitions

 It was warm on the first part of our hike, the high was 85 degrees and the dogs became hot fairly quickly.  That was OK though because I took some great shots while the dogs rested in the shade of the desert bushes.

Dogs taking a cool break in the shade.

The flat iron is that pointy shape in the upper mid/left corner.  It kind of looks like an iron!

The trail is pretty tame for the first half of the way up but once you cross into the "Superstition Wilderness" it becomes more rocky and cool. 

The dogs were really enjoying themselves.  Everyone we met on the trail made the comment about how happy they were, in spite of being hot!  I was hoping they would get tired but...it didn't work!  I was tired alright but they were just getting started.

Buddy exploring the upper basin area

Foxy smiling for the camera

Foxy exploring the upper basin area

The neatest part of the hike though (we did not make it to the flat iron, so this may be 2nd neatest when we finally make that!) was the basin area and pool.  Here is Buddy exploring a cool smooth rock surface area of the trail that leads into the basin (the basin is the smooth dipping area in the upper middle of this photo).

Buddy is a rock climber!

We were all excited when we finally got to the basin area.  It is all shaded and cool from the surrounding mountains so the dogs took the opportunity to run around and play.  They are so much better at navigating the surface than we humans!  However, I took note and on the way down, I lowered my center of gravity (used my third leg...uh...my posterior region!) and slid down the rock....it was so fun!

Here is the video of them that this still was taken from!  Dogs Play

Dogs play on the basin

Buddy checking out the pool area of the basin

Cairn marking "end" of trail

 I really wanted to make it to the flat iron but since we dawdled so much going up, I knew we'd never make it back before dark so we climbed up to the top of the basin and took some shots up there.  Well, I took some shots, the dogs played.

Looking down from the top of the Basin

Buddy watching hikers from the top of the basin.  This is the area I slid down...it was like a slide!

The trail up to the flat iron

Here are the short videos that above pictures were taken from:
18 cool rock basin (40 seconds)
21 buddy eats sandwich (1 minute)
25 basin lookout (39 seconds)

We were the last ones off of the mountain, but on the way down I got some more really cool shots!  The sunset was awesome, it was the perfect place to be for such a magnificent sunset.

About a third of the way down we finally found the "plane" that had been so noisy on our way up.  Only in Apache Junction will you find a home made flying car!  

Here is the video:  28 flying car (40 seconds)

The sun was fully down by the time we reached the parking lot, but on the way down the colors were amazing!

Here are the videos that these pictures above were taken from:

29 awesome sunset (30 seconds)

30 More awesome sunset (45 seconds) 

31 sunset cacti (20 seconds)

34 pink sky (26 seconds)

It took us about 5 hours to do a 2 hour hike, but it was well worth it!  I am still sore though, so it is probably a good thing we didn't make it up to flat iron! That gives us something to work toward. Yay!