Waltz left the mine to get more supplies, and when he returned, Weisner was found dead. It isnt much to look at. It would happen regularly for the next three years, a time during which my wife would continue to believe in me even if she couldnt really understand me. Desert Geological Terms, Home | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Hotels. by silent hunter Thu Sep 02, 2010 9:21 am, Post Pick behind the cross on the wall. This cave (really an alcove) in the southwest flank of Superstition Mountain can be seen while driving southeast on US-60 in Apache Junction. Bellhop-turned-treasure hunter is found dead THREE YEARS after he vanished in Arizona mountains hunting for mythical 'Lost Dutchman's gold mine'. A curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. Barry Storm's later investigations made the same connections with the addition of the Spanish Jesuits. The Jesuit Treasure of the Superstition Mountains. I tried to remind myself that the Lost Dutchman was just a figment of someones overactive imagination. The Flat Iron in the Superstition Mountains as seen from the Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona, USA. Pretty much so, anyway. [Online]Available at: http://www.truewestmagazine.com/has-the-lost-dutchman-mine-been-found/. I can see how Jacob's Crossing can be a great beginner's hike, but, for me, the climb to Broadway Cave was the highlight. Length: 4.6 mi Est. This was wild country, unlike anything I had ever encountered. Ed Piper spent MANY years in the Superstitions. As far as any worthwile amounts of gold there it's highly questionable if there ever was any and since it's now a wilderness area we will probably never know. (Part 1) When the Spanish explorers discovered and began the exploration of the Americas the King of Spain required that a priest accompany the conquistadors. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. On the next trip, thats what I did. Whoda thought? what is interesting though is the hints of signs and topography the guys see and don't tell here, saving for later maybe? It would be interesting to collect all the facts. You'll take US 60 East until it turns into a 2 lane road. Rocky at start. We had to hike through a lot of scrub brush and cacti, walking over pea-size pebbles which rolled like marbles when we stepped on them, making the going tough. I only went about 2 miles, but I'll return for the rest of the trail. Jacob's Crosscut Trail - AllTrails.com For some reason, one night I took the photograph down for a closer look. Neolithic Stone Balls: The Northern Rosetta Stone? . He had his camp set up by Weaver's Needle which is where whatever information he had suggested the treasure was. I think the popularity of this place came to be from a film done on the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine aired on the History Channel. PAYDAY. [Online]Available at: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2240620/Lost-Dutchmans-gold-Body-man-years-went-hunt-legend-Arizona-mountains.html, Bremner, L., 22016. All necessary for long-term habitation. However, when he heard about the gold in the Superstition Mountain, he too began searching for it. In this tale, a U.S. Army surgeon by the name of Dr. Abraham Thorne was taken to a mine by the Apache as a reward. We had to leave. 'Lost Dutchman's' gold mine: Body of man found three years after he This is a popular trail for birding, hiking, and running, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. No way was the latter there for 100's of years and if it was the cross would of been known. In part two of this article, we will present the information we have obtained about the location of the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine. One of the stones, sometimes called the "Priest Map Stone," shows an image of a priest (or a witch) with a cross next to a few brief sentences in Spanish with misspellings. It tapered to two feet where the trail came onto it, and it slanted steeply toward the outside. Actually I saw it on a television show on the History channel about the Lost Dutchman Mine (from 2015 I think). I made camp near the head of the canyon and started out the next morning. In both instances, it gave cryptic instructions for how to follow the trail. The canyon was eliminated as a way to get onto the ledge. She felt better, however, because I took good solid people with me to help in the search. From the curve, I could tell the mouth of that jar had been about 12 inches in diameter. She was known for her intelligence, beauty, and powerful political acumen. The only thing missing was a rock house that was supposed to be in the cave, but a flash flood or even some person might have destroyed the rock house. After that detour, I headed back out on Jacob's Crosscut and the surface was much kinder. On the next trip, my wife and I planned to take pictures from a short way up the small canyon. Dan Welch, a mining engineer, after 15 years of searching and examining historical clues, has found the Lost Dutchman Mine near the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. This is the source for everything you need to know about Arizona Hiking. Folks had claims all over those mountains and would commonly fire warning shots to scare trespassersor even now and then murder those they thought were seeking the Dutchmans gold. Desert Geological Terms, Home | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Hotels. This time, I found a possible place to descend from the top, enabling me to make my way around the point. Piper spent his years looking for that Jesuit Cache. The trail is nice for a flatlander like me. The heart-shaped inlay stone, called the "Heart Stone," has strange symbols engraved on each side. The next day we worked about three hours and hit bedrock. The opposite wall extended upward another 800 feet. Bells began going off in my head, and I realized that I had never reached the end of the trail. The ancient civilization of Greece is a historical period that has long been a subject of fascination and intrigue. Bat cave with ladder Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I am sure somebody was stalking us. It made a very good playpen with a ground sheet, but it had no roof. On the trip home, however, my friend asked if the curved arrow on the map could be an extension of the trail. It is fun to see and quite a historic site. Reading about the cross on the back wall of the cave, I would have removed it or took a pick and sledge hammer to the back wall and see if it was a false room, but being there would be someone's estimated $200,000,000 in gold someone made up, I could care less and I would have gotten it out of there if it was in there if I found it! Step into the past and uncover the mysteries of Micronesias Nan Madol, one of the most ancient and enigmatic lost cities in the world. How much distance the bends and curves would add was impossible to know. by Jim Hatt Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:23 pm, Post Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 54 min to complete. Then, two things happened: either Chaos or Gaia created the universe as we know it, or Ouranos and Tethys gave birth to the first beings. Parking can be a challenge, Permit Required, Petrified Forest National Part and North Eastern AZ, Marcus Landslide Trail (Scottsdale Sonoran Preserve), Box Canyon (Christopher Creek- *Technical), San Tan Regional Park - San Tan trail loops, Petrified Forest National Park and North Eastern AZ. I had left the camera at home (as usual), and the cave wasnt included in the days mission anyway. We found a small cave once in the Dragoon mountains that had a cross carved in the stone over the entrance and you could see a hole in the wall that looked like it had once held a torch because the ceiling above it was black with soot. Season finale of Superstition Mountains show. Arizona Hiking - Wave Cave Rest in peace to my ankles. The lion had killed the javelina all right, but that collared peccary did not go gently into the night. Red Cross - Helsinki-Uusimaa | Helsinki - Facebook Photo by "Tony the Marine", Marine 69-71 at English Wikipedia / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0). When it finally stopped, the water running off the rocks was a glorious sight, worth the trip in itself. If you'd like to take your own photo, or more importantly, enjoy a fun hike in the Superstition Wilderness, then read on! The color was overwhelming. 7 Smartphone Apps to Improve Your Camping Experience New Evidence Surfaces About the Lost Dutchman Mine, 7 Smartphone Apps to Improve Your Camping Experience, GPS Navigation Systems Can Be a Misleading Travel Companion, Twenty Six Tips for Surviving in the Desert, Heat Acclimation (Combating the Desert Heat). The Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine. If it doesn't continue, they will be lucky to break even. How We found the Peralta Treasures (Lost Dutchman) in the Superstition Mountains Check out this 19.8-km out-and-back trail near Apache Junction, Arizona. Going down is pretty scary with the loose gravel. Obviously, the small canyon merged with the large canyon where it made a curve, creating a long narrow point between the two. Cutting Edge Celtic Tech - 2,300-year-old Scissors Still Sharp and Shiny! Nice easy trail, mainly rated moderate due to heat exposure and length. Lost Dutchman Mine. The Peralta Stone Maps Someone climbs that ladder to see a planted cross that was represented as authentic and a archeological relic. 2023 Best Cave Trails in Superstition Wilderness | AllTrails Aside from the rickety ladder there is the issue of two things, having the proper gear to enter this kind of environment, like a respirator, clothing, and then not disturbing the bats. Over time, their activities on the Superstition Mountains angered the Apaches, who began attacking the goldminers. Francisco Vasquez de Coronado After leaving Apache Junction, continue about 8.5 miles, turning left onto signed Peralta Road (FR 77). Something was wrong, he said. Before the Lost Dutchman Mine was discovered by Jacob Waltz (the Dutchman) in the early 1870s, there was a legend of another rich mine which was discovered in the same area and mined by the Peralta family from Sonora, Mexico. We seek to retell the story of our beginnings. These old papers were found to contain clues, symbols and formulas pertaining to the Lost Dutchman Mine. Here are some additional stories that may be of interest to you. As Greek mythology goes, the universe was once a big soup of nothingness. Superstition Mountains - Peralta Stone Tablet Maps For more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. Peirpont C. Bicknell, a free-lance writer and seeker of lost mines, was the first person to link the Peraltas and Weaver's Needle (a pinnacle landmark) with Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine in written documentation dating January, 1895. The Jesuit priests were the most educated and loyal orders to the King of Spain (and to the Pope). It's roughly 20 feet tall by 50 foot wide by 30 feet deep and shows evidence of large parties. We will present data discovered several years ago at a collector's garage sale of old books and notes. Don't hike to the cave unless you have strong knees, great balance and are not afraid of heights. The Wave Cave has grown significantly in popularity as a hiking destination in the Superstition Wilderness. Thanks for asking Veronica. Laid side by side, the Trail Map stone and the Heart Map stone, with the Heart Stone nestled into its cutout, appear to be related. Rusty old Tobacco tin with a surprise inside, 2023!! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. No, not me. Lost Dutchman Gold Mine: Does X Mark The Spot?. A friend of mine had his sites set on this destination for quite some time and finally we made the hike to see it. When we explored the area further, we did find signs of a mountain lions killthe still-greasy skull of a javelina, its tusk recently broken. One thing I'll point out is the trailhead is a little hard to find (maybe a sign would help). On inspection, I found that the caves floor had two manmade holes that would hold about three gallons of water each, and if walled in, the cave could serve as a fortress. Rock climbing. The Superstition Wilderness is on the far east side of the Phoenix valley making the drive roughly 40 minutes or more, depending on where you're embarking from. For some, the Lost Dutchman Mine is just a myth, one that perhaps grew over time until it defied belief. We had to clear the rocks from above us, and then we started to dig. After about 1.5 miles of hiking, you'll reach the obvious Wave cave.
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