We decided to wait out a day of heat in Superior and leave late this afternoon, hiking just enough to get us to on-trail water. Temperatures are supposed to peak today at well into triple digits and cool as the week progresses.

We picked up three days' food to get us to Roosevelt Lake. They have scattered thundershowers forecast which sounds pleasant right now.

I was asked about carsonite posts. The Forest Service uses flat brown fiberglass "posts" about 4" wide as trail markers. Many times a stack of rocks holds them upright. Sometimes just a stack of rocks (called a cairn or duck) marks the way. I think as the trail gets more use a worn tread will be easier to follow. The AZT and its volunteers have done an outstanding job of marking the existing trail. We haven't flailed around searching for the correct way like we did on other new trails.

Superior is an old copper mining town. The mine was closed and now that the price of copper has risen a huge open pit mine is reopening. I can see the conflict between environmentalists and income to renew a town like Superior.

Ken collected water again from the artesian well before we started out. A capped 6" pipe was rising straight out of the ground. The spout on one side gushed a 3" wide stream of water into a small rock bordered pool which then made a small stream. Wonderful tasting water!

Bulky mountains above the wash glower golden in the first morning light. Saguaros are blooming here and add to the spectacular beauty.

Hiking was hard with steep inclines of loose rocks and pebbles. Trail was overgrown with spiny plants and grass that has gone to seed making this a s-i-s or stickers in socks area.

Later, after lunch, we found miles of beautiful, smooth, contouring new trail. That combined with strong wind and overcast skies made a good afternoon of hiking.

As the sun set we found we were hiking along exposed ridges with nothing but rocks and cactus. Not a good area to camp in. At one saddle Ken found a flat spot along the trail and scraped the weeds back. Ahh, home for the night.

Rained on us for 24 hours straight. First we had a sprinkling while walking rocks up the wash. As we started to switchback up the open mountainside thunder and lightning accompanied us. We climbed higher: rain, lightning and thunder increased in intensity, hail was added to the mix. We dashed over the saddle to slide on the mud road that led down. We left sloppy tracks but I couldn't think of an alternate. We needed to hike down.

Camp was wet, the rain continued. We crammed all our wet clothes in a bag. In the morning we'll wring them out, put them on and hope to dry them as we hike.

Reavis Pass to before 2 Bar Ridge, elev 4800?

Hail, rain, fog, wind. Everything is wet and we walk without stopping just to stay warm. We didn't pack up until afternoon waiting for better weather. We should have just gotten up.

Sadly, the screen on Pocketmail is broken. A big black smudge covers the right side of the screen. I also lost my Tilly Hat in the storm and didn't realize it until Ken asked where my hat was.

What a hard day in difficult weather. Amazingly, we are following a single hiker's muddy tracks on the trail. I am sorry he is going through all this by himself and now I think things aren't so grim.

The rain and hail stopped briefly when we walked past the Reavis farm site. I spent my time while walking wondering about Reavis' life up here. Was he lonesome? Did he enjoy the storms or hunker down indoors? How did he find this area and what gave him the idea to grow produce way up here? How did he get it to the miners? Then my thoughts get stuck on yummm, produce.

Finding a campsite was tricky. We settled for soggy but not sloppy

We got up in the misty rain and made our slow way into then out of a wash by following cairns. Footing was rocky and we were careful not to slip.

Gradually the misty rain changed to fog as we still made our way cairn to cairn. When we came out to a trail head we could see pickups and ATVs enjoying the mud. The rider spotted us and we could hear their voices coming up the hill, "Crazy!"

We had several boxes at the Roosevelt Marina and thought the store closed at 5pm. We were hiking in a hurry and somehow got separated so we both made our way to the Marina independently. The store was open until 6pm so we had extra time to eat, drink, shop and fill our packs. Dena watched us. One thing led to another and we rode their pontoon boat to Windy City Campground for the night. We pitched our tent in their site. Thank you Dena and crew!

We fell asleep to the campground sounds of voices and laughter. Quite a change from wind and rain!