POST #21-26 

The Magnificent Superstition Mountains  

Subscribe to our Blog! 

Get E-Mail notifications about new posts!

Fill the CONTACT US TO SUBSCRIBE fields!

********

Tap any photo or video to enlarge/play.

Tap any underlined links to follow. 

********

On January 26th we moved from Cave Creek Regional Park, over to Lost Dutchman State Park, near Apache Junction, AZ.  Lost Dutchman State Park is at the base of the Superstition Mountains, sometimes called "The Supes" 

The trip was "just across town" but it was still about 60 miles. 

It rained the night before we left and there was still snow on "The Supes" and other surrounding mountains.  Temps were only in the 50's.

The Superstition Mountains is rumored to be the home of the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine. Stories are told of people going into  the mountains looking for the gold...never to return!

We got a great campsite facing the Mountains...

Great spot to relax and study the mountains...facing the sun in the morning  and shaded in the afternoon! 

Here is some info from my Roadside Geology book... 

A geologic map from the same book....Click to enlarge

As the text states, these are volcanic features...it is estimated that about 2500 cubic miles of lava and volcanic ash were ejected during the series of eruptions.  For comparison, the 1980 eruption of Mt St Helens in Washington State ejected 1/4 cubic mile of material!  The deposits of the Superstions can be found for miles around...This mountain, 14 miles away in Usery Park, is composed of material from the eruptions.  First a huge lava flow, then a thick layer of welded volcanic ash (the lighter colored layer), then another lava flow on top.  The volcanic ash was so hot that when it landed it welded itself back into solid rock....  

Here's another deposit of the welded volcanic ash.....They call it TUFF....Near Canyon Lake, about 15 miles NE...

And another deposit at Saguaro Lake...about 20 miles North....

Here is a piece welded volcanic ash we picked up...

It must have been a hellish place around here during those times...hard to imagine!

The first week we got here it was only in the low 60s and breezy most days and in the 40s at night.  The second week started out much different with highs in the low 80s and lows in the 60s with light winds.  That's more like it! 

And the beautiful sunsets continue!!

More pix of the "Supes" and info to follow...We are here another week!

Until Next Time!