Meridian Trailhead to Usery Pass; Goldfields, February 2, 2017 Trail Map

This is the West Goldfield Vista hike, going the opposite direction. By starting at first light I was hoping to get farther down the trail before sunrise.

Plenty of other folks on the trail, both before and after sunrise. The Pass Mountain Trail climbs as it roughly parallels Sand Canyon, finally crossing the canyon near the top. Until I got up to the pass, most hikers were going the same direction as me. But one fellow was coming down the trail before dawn. When and where did he start? Must have begun his hike at night.

Thanks to my daughter Clara for meeting me at Usery Pass Trailhead when my hike was over.

silhouette
Yes, the sun will rise over the Superstition Mountains.
dawn
The rosy fingers of dawn.
anteater
Well hi there!  Aren’t you kind of early today?
ledge
The ledge south of Peak 3205.
shepherd
Good Shepherd watches over the Pass Mountain Trail.
3205
Peak 3205.
3312
Peak 3312.
3312
The ridge east of Peak 3312.
pass
Head ’em off at the pass.
lichen lichen
Multicolored lichens like the Pass Mountain Trail.
cholla
Teddy Bears don’t mind the steep slopes of Peak 3004.
north
North of the pass: the mighty Mazatzals, Stewart Mountain, and Mt. Ord.
green
Too early for spring flowers, but watch this space.
granite
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock. Hardening underground, the crystals have time to grow.
quartz
Quartz flowed in between the boulders. 		tree
A fallen tree. Yum! (if you’re a certain insect).
post
The Usery Pass Trail goes by a corner post with chain fruit chollas.
  More Hike Pictures updated February 2, 2017