Backpacking Solo - LaBarge Canyon & Battleship Mountain - Superstition Wilderness, Arizona
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 ก.ย. 2024
- Backpacking Solo - LaBarge Canyon & Battleship Mountain - Superstition Wilderness, Arizona
I wanted to start the year off with a relatively tough hike. The Superstition Mountains were the perfect place. Plus I wouldn't freeze here in the winter. So I set out to tackle a hike I had failed at before; LaBarge Canyon. The route I chose started at Canyon Lake and took the Boulder Trail to the east end of Battleship Mountain. Boulder Canyon trail starts out hard; it's a long walk up a tall hill. Soon enough though, the views along Boulder Canyon open up, revealing Battleship Mountain, Weavers Needle, Canyon Lake and more. It's beautiful.
Things went well. A little too well. I got to LaBarge before noon. I checked out LaBarge; a short, but gorgeous box canyon, and set up camp. Then I found myself with nothing to do at 1PM. Camp was nearly in the shadow of Battleship Mountain.
So I climbed that. Battleship Mountain is not for those who are unsure on their feet or afraid of heights. But if those things don't bother you and you love good views, you can't top Battleship Mountain.
Music - Epidemic Sound
Feels Right - Cody Francis
The Next Chapter - Cody Francis
The Long Walk - Jamie Norwood
This Ain't My First Rodeo - Bo the Drifter
Thoughts in the Rain - Elm Lake
Gold in Our Pockets - Tigerblood Jewel
Cain - Lo Minieux
Feeling Alright - Gavin Luke
A Night to Remember - Rian Jewels
#hiking
#outdoors
#backpacking
If you click on the links below - and especially if you buy from these links - I'll get compensation. So that would be cool. No, I'm not sponsored by them, but I love the products.
Filmed on:
GoPro Hero 9 Black:
amzn.to/2JDd7YZ
AZ landscape is like no other
Those cliff sides. The views. Dont even know where to look first. Its awesome everywhere around
One of my favorite views in the Supes.
Interesting you camped there. It was one of our favorite stop spots usually in April early May. At night we would kick back and have a very small fire kickin back against the rocks next to the water a watch the bats fly through swooping up water. Occasionally other animals would sneak in for a sip. Very cool. We loved camping
at Trap canyon if there was water. We would day hike from there and some times take gear for an under the stars overnight trip then back to Trap. I think the last time we were there was 1999. Always a great trip. Thanks for the memory joggin share!
You are a bit crazy ! Best way to break everyday life’s hold is to stand on top that mountain and know you conquered it ! And didn’t fall ! Thx again !
Much appreciated by me, glad you got what you needed by doing it! Thank you!
I love AZ
I keep finding a video I haven’t seen and they are all beautiful and so well done.
Thanks!
Thanks for the hike. Looked like a lot of ankle breakers in that wash. Safe travels.
Thanks for sharing your adventure, looked awesome.
Need more than 3 seconds of Tina🥺
Excellent vid
I literally JUST told her "See, this video is doing fine and you're not in it. Not even a comment about it." Now your comment will go straight to her head. (She'll be in the next one.)
@@JerryArizona As it should. She is Ms. Queen Arizona😁
Always looking forward to your vids!
Awesome video as always, and thank you!!
Wow is he getting better and better at the
videos.
I’ve backpacked the Superstitions and the Matatzals back in the 80’s-2000’s but too old now. Spinal fusion. So it’s great to be able to hike virtually and see things I would never see again!!!
it's quite a goat hill, saw a mountain lion watching us when we went, we had dogs with us
Still haven't seen one of those out in the wild. I'm sure plenty have seen me though.
Thanks
Hahaha..Jerry Arizona..He's Awesome...well..maybe..
I’ve fished Canyon Lake a few times and shore camped up the Salt River arm “back in the day”. Descent trout fishing but what I remember most is the diverse wildlife in the area. We’d see mountain goats on sheer canyon walls jumping from point to point on ledges that couldn’t have been wider than six inches. Never have seen it from this point of view, thanks for the video.
I was just now wondering what kind of kayak camping could be done heading out of Canyon Lake? Must have been peaceful.
That sounds awesome. I've never seen mountain goats except, of all places, the Na Pali Coast. They'd walk along the ledges above the camp at Kalalau and kick a bunch of rocks down on people. I need to explore the Salt. I really haven't done much along it.
@@garyives1218 If I remember correctly there was two lane blacktop leading into the marina at the upper end of the lake and we launched bass boats from there. However if I were going to kayak up the Salt-there was a small pullout just prior to a one-lane bridge, (before the marina). I’d park there and put in the lake at that point, seems like the was access there. The area up river is beautiful, we only motored about 1 mile up river so I don’t know what camping spots were like farther up the canyon but you could definitely kayak farther. We never went farther because we were there to fish and most of the good spots were closer the the main lake.
"It feels awesome now" - right on! Pushing ourselves is good for us. Beautiful footage.
Thanks! And "the suck" as my wife and I call it is absolutely one of my favorite things about hiking. Seeing what you can overcome gives a sense of accomplishment that's like nothing else.
Great video, thank you.
I always look forward to your videos! As always you never disappoint. The beginning music was a peaceful start to this rainy day and then a great transition with your journey back down battleship! Wonderful views and editing as always. Please keep the videos coming I appreciate all your knowledge, beautiful scenery, music, commentary and humor! Thank you!!
End of credits : Jerry Arizona he’s awesome 👏 👏🤣😂
This is good stuff. It's keeping me happy as the rains start here.
Same here. Just cancelled an entire week's worth of hikes due to cold/bad weather. Sucks, but I'll just have to get out there when it clears up.
The end credits are epic.
I appreciate these videos. And I think that editing and camera shots are great in every one I've watched
I love this!
Battleship is still my favorite Superstition hike. Just the right mix of adventure and views.
LOVE watching your videos, first for the quality of the shoot and editing but also for these "go it alone" videos. I'm almost always out alone and get a warm fuzzy when I see a clip and know _exactly_ what you are going through at the time (walk away shots, foot shots, equipment set up, etc.). Explaining things to the camera is still a weird feeling when alone in the middle of nowhere. :)
You're the guy who struggled through Zero G! Man, the canyoneering community can be hard on people. Probably the biggest trouble I got myself into to date was in Bear Canyon. It's a beginner canyon, but it nearly killed me (literally). Just poor decisions and bad luck and within a split second, things got serious. I watched that vid (someone posted it on FB) of you going through Zero G and I could completely relate. Always easy to pick apart someone's judgment when you're watching them on your phone on the couch. Glad you got through it without a visit from SAR.
@@JerryArizona I did not mind. If I screw up, I show it. I only want to tell that story, whatever that story is. I enjoy hearing that people relate to situations, as I do. I feel you when you are tired and pushing, when you wake up warm and don't want to get out of that bag, when you have to keep walking back for the camera, etc. I've since paid the $100 to SARs so if they needed to come out, they can easily be paid by the state (it is state specific). I've looked at sat messengers and noticed you wearing the mini. I don't know if I'll get one but it is on my mind. Think about this... at what point would you push that button. When you really think about it, it is a tough call. To be short, it is pressed when you've told yourself that you can't get out. That is a tough call as you can never give up and seldom is a situation black and white. Thanks for the reply!
so jel of your adventures! Just got back from the Sooops and already made plans to go back next February!
Tina & I are so lucky to have the Superstitions so close. I've hiked out there three times (plus once to the Goldfields) so far this year.
@@JerryArizona Rewatching...heading out later this week...and just saw the loop attempt you posted earlier today...thanks for showing that one ...we wont do that! Now to decide First Water or LaBarge for Battleship hmm. La Barge down, Battleship, and then out via First Water??
@@melaniegarden3416 First Water is longer, but less elevation change. Personally, I prefer taking Boulder Canyon Trail. Shorter, but more elevation change. Go up the saddle and summit Battleship. Then you can go out the way you came, or you can even just walk up La Barge canyon and catch back onto Boulder downstream. (That way is off trail though and will be slower going with all the rocks in the probably dry creekbed.) I just like the views on Boulder better than First Water.
@@JerryArizona I remembered now that you mentioned earlier you preferred Boulder Canyon route. I'm going to try for that (there's four of us in the group I hope they will agree with me!) since the views look so amazing and we have already hiked First Water/ Second Water then south away from Battleship in 2021. Heading back to AZ from IN. Bit mad really!!
Absolutely love your videos ! 👍🏼#AzLife ☀️ 🌴 🌵
Just going down the rabbit hole of all of your amazing videos tonight. I’ve done a lot of the hike you and your wife have done and am really missing AZ right now. Sold our place in San Tan last year ☹️🇨🇦. I chickened out and didn’t make it to the top of battleship so it was great to finally see it. Thank you for posting your great content. Always look forward to your videos 👍🏻. Sending 🙏🏻 to our neighbours State side.
Glad you like them! I absolutely love AZ. And don't feel bad about Battleship. Seems less than half the people who try actually make it. It's sketchy in a lot of spots.
Just did this in 8 hours. Started at 7 from Canyon lake, went down Boulder canyon creek up to the top of Battleship, checked out Labarge canyon, back up via Labarge creek (no trail there and those smooth boulders are no joke).
Congratulations, Excellent hike!!!
Another great hike!
Great hike and experience!!! You have some really interesting uploads in your channel 😊❤️👏
Looks like a great hike! Motivating me to get out and enjoy the state. Hello from Peoria!
Great hike JA! Arizona is amazing!
Dude! great trip! I love the single solo overnights...and man I'm glad you grabbed the view from up top. Incredible..That area is definitely on my list!
It's a great area, for sure. I'm really lucky to have it so close to home.
🌯🌮🌯🌮 great post hike meal
great vid
We did the hike the opposite direction with no backpacking-peralta to canyon lake marina with a battleship detour-about 17 miles of awesomeness. Can’t imagine doing it with a backpacking pack though 😬. Now if it would just rain more 🙏🏼. Happy Trails 🥾!
That's a long day hike. Tina & I have done a lot of hikes out there, just never connected one end to the other except for when we did Ridgeline. (You should check hike that out if you haven't.)
@@JerryArizona Yes! We love that hike and try to do it at least once a year. Thanks for making great vids. Your aravaipa one helped us prepare for our backpacking trip this past summer 🙌🏼.
Man, i hiked the ridgeline trail earlier this month and keep looking at la barge canyon and really want to backpack it (canyon lake to carney springs). looking forward to watching this video. :)
Awesome!!! Now you gotta walk back in get the camera! LOL
haahahahahhah the credits lol
I want to do this but need to train for and need a guide.
Awesome! I would have joined a couple friends for this one last year if my back hadn't gone kaput. Thanks for posting. Yeah I've had unfortunate instances where lighting wouldn't let me capture the majesty of the moment. Not sure I'll ever make it, having to haul so much water in :(
Just need to go when there's water then. Last year at this time, the creek was so high you couldn't cross it. I just expected no water, so I didn't research, but I was shocked there was water where Second Water & Boulder Canyon trails met. I wonder if that's a spring. I know there are places out there that almost always have water. I guess I could have filtered the water at La Barge too, but....man, that stuff was gross looking.
Love the videos. We've done some hikes -- like Fisher Towers in Utah -- solely based on your recommendations. We're back down in AZ in October and March, and want to hike the Superstitions. Any suggestions? We're looking for a solid 3-4 hour hike that will capture the best parts of the region. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks!
My first recommendation would be this hike (Boulder Canyon), then turn around when you've gone about halfway through the time you want to spend. The drive to Canyon Lake (and the lake itself) are scenic too. And you can stop by Tortilla Flat and grab dinner or ice cream. If they finish repairing SR88, you can take that on through all the way to Lake Roosevelt. It's been closed for years, but they're working on clearing it finally. Otherwise, Peralta Trail to Lone Pine is a good hike on the other side with amazing views of Weavers Needle.
@@JerryArizona Thanks so much! Appreciate your time and expertise!
“...you gotta walk back and get that camera...” that’s exactly why I started using my drone in tripod mode for locked off shots when I drive by! Why make it harder, right? Sucks when you’re in a wilderness area and can’t fly though!
Man, I watched your video on 5 alternatives for 'popular' SUV's.....Within the first 20 seconds I was thinking "I wonder if anyone watching this realizes how much effort this dude put into this video?" Just the camera angles, under the hood, etc. Great to see your channel blowing up. And yeah, unfortunately, if it's worth filming, you probably aren't allowed to fly there...
@@JerryArizona Thanks Jerry! I really appreciate the kind words, especially coming from someone I’ve definitely looked up to as I’ve been working on trying to figure this thing out!
@@MattKester Ha! You're killing it. You've got a great niche, you know what you're talking about and you put in the work. You're gonna blow right by me. And it's deserved. Enjoy it.
Woo! The summit was super cool! Always exciting to see you do the summit hike! My gf and I are actually planning for a 3 days 2 nights Thanksgiving holiday hike in Superstition Mountain - just wondering if you have any trail recommendation for 3 days 2 nights? - would be wonderful if there is water in the trail haha (didn't want to carry tons of liter water haha) Or could you share the trail map (especially the camp site location) for this video? Thank you JERRY!!!!
Awesome! Actually recognize the road! Makes me wanna bring my gear down...will be there in March, plan on Battleship...have watched numerous vids, any pointers? Wanna hike it again in March? :-)
Did you watch my video from last year? That gives more details on the hike than this one. The route is kind of tough to follow if you don't know where to go. At the end, right before the summit, you have to go down and to the left (facing the summit), then you climb up and around from the back side. At the very beginning, there's a spot that looks impossible to climb. If you struggle there, it's not the hike for you. I think it takes me a good full year between hikes at Battleship. I need at least that much time to forget how badly it sucks and only remember how great the views are.
@@JerryArizona That's the first video of yours I found....liked your take and demeanor and started following you after that. I've watched a couple others, think I know what I'm doing (famous last words?)....I understand on the inbetweens! We go backpacking the Superior Hiking Trail end of May...it's usually wet and cold, but the views are great....takes me until Jan/Feb to start thinking about it again!
do you ever get scared or nervous sleeping out there? heard that it dangerous out there
Spent many, many nights in the Supes with no issues. It's my backyard. I've never felt unsafe out there.
Hi! I just hiked first water to boulder canyon trail, I was wondering how far la barge is from the T intersection of boulder canyon trail and second water trail, and which was is easier to get to it - from first water or the start of boulder canyon at canyon lake, thanks so much for your help!
Looks like it's about 1.5 miles SE after the junction. Continue on Boulder Canyon trail, crossing the creek about a million times. Then there is an unmarked social trail climbing the saddle of Battleship Mountain (also how you get to Battleship.) From the top of the saddle, you can see La Barge below you. Continue straight to La Barge if that's your goal, or up the ridge if you want to climb Battleship. The turn off on the unmarked trail is approximately 33.487858, -111.395553
Also, I think it's slightly easier from First Water. But it's much more scenic from Canyon Lake. If you take Canyon Lake in, you can also branch off Boulder Canyon trail and go straight up La Barge. (Shown on my exit on this video.) There is no trail and it gets into some boulder scrambling (but no bushwacking) in spots.
I loved this hike! I did it back in December. I started early and did it in about 6 hours, but when i saw that same camp site, i wished i would have made it an overnight. I remember the temperature dropping considerably when i got into the creek area around 5:30 or 6. How was the cold at night? Did you just leave your gear when you went up battleship?
Also, were you allowed to park overnight in one of those spots in the marina parking lot? Thanks Jerry! Great video
I just parked at the trailhead and left my truck there. Come to think of it, there was an office/trailer there that we checked in at when we went years ago. Can't remember if they had a fee/permits issued from there or not. I've got an annual pass, but probably should have checked in. With COVID, I just wanted to stay away from people so I just parked and took off. It wasn't too bad at night. I had several layers I didn't use. Maybe mid/upper 30's? Used a 15 degree bag and was cozy. Gloves were nice for the morning when I was in the shade.
Did you use two Tonto passes to park there?
I have an annual Tonto pass. But in hindsight, I would recommend checking in at the marina. I know we did that the first time we hiked this. Not sure if it required or not, but I didn't have any issues. I will be sure to check next time.
@@JerryArizona Sweet! Thank you, I'll ask them next time I go out there.
Where did you stay and how was the WiFi?
Before this trip? I live nearby. I camped for the night in the canyon. WiFi was non-existent, but the views were great.
DO YOU PARK ACROSS THE STREET
For Boulder Canyon, you park at Canyon Lake. They have spots up against the road that are designated as trailhead parking. Then you just walk across the street to start the trail.
@@JerryArizona Thank you and great channel.
what backpack were you using in this video?
I'm guessing it was a Gregory 75L. Not 100% sure.
How do you like your Garmin Inreach Mini? Any chance of you doing a review of it or the one your beautiful wife used on her solo hike to stay in touch with you?
I keep meaning to do reviews, but they never seem to get done. Mainly because I'm always out of light once I get to camp and have things set up and.....I really don't like doing them. We had a ResQLink. Good because there is no subscription fee, bad because you can only hit an SOS button and wait. No other way to communicate. Thankfully, I don't know if it works or not because I never needed to use it. The Garmin is great because it's tiny and you can communicate. They have several plans that are reasonable depending on how many messages you need to send. When Tina went to 4 Pass and we needed to communicate more, I just upgraded the plan for that month then went back the next month. This trip I was able to send a quick message that I was safe and not freezing to death. It's really invaluable.
On my goal list this year, overnight camp and climb Battleship. Was your route the same as this one or did you go further down Bolder Canyon on your way out? Enjoyed your solo hike video, for sure. www.stavislost.com/hikes/trail/battleship-mountain-and-la-barge-canyon/map
Love stavislost. That's basically my exact route.
I notice you always eat mexican AFTER you get back from hiking, are you afraid of leaving something trail side a little lose? ....
💩......he he.....
Take Peralta trail next time, much closer, check out White Rock spring in LaBarge, water through May!