A Birthday at Reavis Ranch

Ashley and I went backpacking in the Superstition Mountains for my birthday. We hiked to Reavis Ranch from the Rogers Trough trailhead via the Reavis trail, #109. It was 6.5 miles each way with about 1900ft in elevation change. It was a great weekend the coincided with Easter. We've decided to make it an annual tradition to go backpacking on Easter weekend. So you could call this the official, first annual Easter weekend backpack trip!

We didn't want the backpacks going anywhere on the 4x4 road to the trailhead so we decided to give them a seatbelt!

finally on the trail, Ashley is a happy Hiker!





and So am I, I am just trying to look cool.

Here lies the grave of Elisha Reavis. I know, not too impressive. He was a vegetable farmer that lived in the superstition mountains during the late 1800's on his farm. The apple trees he planted well over a hundred years ago still bear fruit to this day. His grave is just off the trail that bears his name on a small side trail marked by a rock cairn. He is buried where he died. That's how they did it in the old days.



This old rusted horseshoe was the only man made thing to mark his grave, we would like to think it was from one of his mules but since he died in 1897 it is highly unlikely.




Ashley needs a break!




The uphill portion of the trail his called Reavis's Saddle. It is about a mile and a half of very steep switch backs with no where to stop and rest. We finally just stopped in the middle of the trail for a break. It was about 3:30 in the afternoon and the sun was very hot.



We finally made it over the saddle and settled in for the last easy two miles. Our shadows stopped to pose for a picture.

The trail is very worn after a century's worth of use. You can really grasp the difference in elevation from the trailhead by the different flora on top of the saddle.

Ashley was fascinated by the bugs having sex. They were everywhere! It's not the greatest picture but you get the point.




I however, was fascinated with ironwood trees. I don't know why, maybe because of how dense the wood is and the deep red color of the bark. Wow, I'm a nerd.





About a half-a-mile from the ranch there is the largest Juniper tree you will ever see. I imagine 4 or 5 people holding hands still wouldn't be able to encircle it.



We finally made it to the Ranch as night was falling. The place was deserted so we chose a campsite that had a chair in it left by a previous group. Whoever made this deserves a merit badge in something. I sat in it and it held my 210lb frame with ease. Very sturdy!

Our awesome campsite at the very southern edge of Reavis Ranch. We thought we we're alone until we heard our neighbors about 200-300 yards to our north. They were gone by the time we woke up the next morning.

This is all that is left of Elisha Reavis's homestead. There are a few adjoining structures like a cemented up well and a livestock area. From what I read on the internet a fire destroyed most of the main structure and then the forest service knocked down the stone walls in the mid 90's



You can still see some floor tiles but I doubt they are original. Many have tried to turn Reavis Ranch into a tourist destination. During the 20's the 40's and probably even more. Now that it sits in the middle of the largest wilderness area in the United States(the Superstition Wilderness Area) I think those days are over since the land is owned by the government.