Date: March 21st
Hikers: Me & Jim
Location: Cave Creek AZ
Distance: Less 5 miles
Rating: Easy
Time: 1 1/2 hours
Link:http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/spur_cross/
We hiked out here in November of 2013. This is where we did Elephant Mountain. Today Jim and I ventured north on Spur Crossing towards Skull Mesa. I would love to hike Skull Mesa some day. That is a 12 to 15 miler.
Beautiful morning in Arizona. The roads in Cave Creek were blocked off. At the time I did not know why. Today the plan is Spur Crossing as far as we can go but a 5 miler round trip max hike is planned.
Jim and I met at the Trailhead. $3 per person is the price to enter the park. There were lots of cars in the parking lot but no one on our trail. A lady and her two dogs ran passed us and then we saw two guys on the way back. I think most do the Spur Crossing South to Elephant Mountain. 
The Creek was fairly dry when we first started however as we progressed up the trail there was more water. We traversed the creek several times. The first time there was a nice wood bridge for us to walk across. |
| Jim Striking a Pose! |
We started up a slight hill with the creek to our right. The flowers were beautiful and the bee's were buzzing. We quickly hit the next crossing and the water was much deeper. There were boulders that we could step on to walk across.
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| Much Deeper! |
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| Jim had no problem skipping on these rocks |
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| Shaded area so it looks green on my iPhone. Weird! |
When we started this morning at 7:30 it was crispy and breezy. Now 45 minutes later it is hot even in the shade. We walked up the dry creek for 10 minutes. You could see small prints in the sand. I think a four legged creature has been here.
Pictures could not do this creek area justice. The colors were red and the sun and cactus were all ahead.
We turned around and headed back from where we came. We passed two guys coming towards us and that was about it.
Back at the first place we crossed the creek there was a duck and his wife. Swimming around and chasing each other.
At the top of the hill we decided to take the Metate Trail back towards the parking lot. This is .8 of a mile and picks up the bottom of Spurs Crossing. It is about the same distance as the way we came but a much prettier trail. We came upon this cactus as we headed into a much denser area.
We saw this rock under a cactus in the shade. Jim said that it was used by the Natives of the land for them to grind corn. It now was filled with water. It looked like a heart from the distance but you can see where each side they must of scrapped something and it made the rock wither away. Really Cool. These purple flowers were only in this area. Bee's stuck in everyone.
So do I feel dumb? After googling "rock to grind stone" I get this definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metate
Guess what the trail is called. Metate! Who knew. Definition = A ground stone used to process grain or corn. Jim is so smart. But we did not put two and two together to know the trail was named for the rock. I feel smart now!!
The yellow flowers in this area were magnificent. There was this big field that was covered!
We finished up the hike on Spurs Crossing back to the car. This area was packed with people. All Ages. We headed up the hill to the car and met back up with the lady we first saw running with her two dogs. She said she did not see anyone on the trail we did as well.
Jim & I said goodbye and headed home. Jim told me the streets were blocked off because it was the Cave Creek annual parade. When I got back to the street a little after 9 I found the parade had started. Horses were the hit of the Parade. These folks had blowup horses on. Very funny. Maybe next year we hike and then come watch the parade. Need to remember that.
We turned around and headed back from where we came. We passed two guys coming towards us and that was about it. Back at the first place we crossed the creek there was a duck and his wife. Swimming around and chasing each other.
At the top of the hill we decided to take the Metate Trail back towards the parking lot. This is .8 of a mile and picks up the bottom of Spurs Crossing. It is about the same distance as the way we came but a much prettier trail. We came upon this cactus as we headed into a much denser area.
We saw this rock under a cactus in the shade. Jim said that it was used by the Natives of the land for them to grind corn. It now was filled with water. It looked like a heart from the distance but you can see where each side they must of scrapped something and it made the rock wither away. Really Cool. These purple flowers were only in this area. Bee's stuck in everyone.So do I feel dumb? After googling "rock to grind stone" I get this definition.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metate
Guess what the trail is called. Metate! Who knew. Definition = A ground stone used to process grain or corn. Jim is so smart. But we did not put two and two together to know the trail was named for the rock. I feel smart now!!
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| View Looking Back of Dry Creek |
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| ACHHHHHOOOOO |
Jim & I said goodbye and headed home. Jim told me the streets were blocked off because it was the Cave Creek annual parade. When I got back to the street a little after 9 I found the parade had started. Horses were the hit of the Parade. These folks had blowup horses on. Very funny. Maybe next year we hike and then come watch the parade. Need to remember that.
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| Zoom in they are blow up Donkeys! |
Fun Hike. Maybe when I can easily cross the creek we will go for the 12 mile Skull Mesa Hike.
Hike #15
Done!
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