Working around Superior Arizona, I had heard about the hike up to Apache leap, a sheer cliff you see from Highway 60. Those of you who stopped at Los hermanos restaurant during Arizona bike week were at the bottom of this cliff.

I had an early morning free and thought the time was right to head up after the scorpions had gone to bed and while it was still too cool for the snakes.








I knew where the parking lot was, parked and headed up the hill for the low notch you see in the picture above.





Heading up the hill, I saw this downed Yucca. I've often wondered what kind of walking sticks the yucca stalk would make, but not this morning.






After just a little huffing and puffing, I arrived at the top, but about 100 feet higher than I had planned. should have taken the low road for an easier hike!






But what a view. Those white dots in the foreground are the houses of Superior, Arizona. The large mountain is Picket Post mountain west of town.




Heights don't bother me, but when I looked down, I realized a slip would be a lengthy free-fall. Sat on my butt and wedged my foot behind a boulder to keep myself from falling. That dark straight line at top center is highway 60 exiting the tunnel. You can click on the pictures to enlarge any of them.



Had to wait for the sun to get high enough to gett pictures of the road below. Nice quiet spot to watch the desert wake up.



Then it was time to head down. Speaking of waking up, the path between these two boulders just screamed snake gauntlet.

Nothing under the left boulder....



Nothing under the right boulder, time to scurry like a rabbit.








On the uneventful walk down, I had a beautiful view of the Oak Flat area of Highway 60 and the headframe of the old Magma #9 shaft.

Just another day of working in beauty......