After visiting the Titan II missile site earlier we drive to the Waterman Interpretative Restoration Site nearby. Here we eat our snacks while planning the next steps. We know we want to climb on the Waterman Mountain but there are two routes, brave a 4×4 road to a trailhead about 1.5 miles away or try to hike from here to the trailhead and then into the mountains. We really want to hike today so we decide to start from the interpretative trailhead as long as we can find the abandoned road that leaves from here to the trailhead. And we do find it neatly hidden behind some bushes and on we go.
One of the reasons we really wanted to hike through this area is that there is a rare cactus in the area, the Nichol’s Turk’s-head Cactus. And lo and behold we don’t have to get far to find it, quite surprising how easy it was. We also see many fun saguaros both large and small and overall enjoy this “lonely” hike.
It is good that the hike is on the old road as otherwise we would go much slower given that we have to avoid the cacti. Illegal immigrants had the same thoughts and we find multiple signs of their passing as we continue on the road.
The trail is relatively flat and there are some side roads that peter off into the desert both left and right, sometimes there are signs and no roads at all. Ultimately the old road is supposed to take us to the 4×4 road that we have to follow a short distance to the trailhead.
There are many jackrabbits on the abandoned road and hawks high up, luckily no other carnivores are seen during our hike.
We make good time and soon reach the 4×4 road which is surprisingly busy. We hike only about 16 minutes on it and still encounter multiple ATVs and trucks on it.
Therefore we are happy when we reach the trailhead which has a map panel, with no map, and a trail register, with no register. Par for the course for this remote national monument. At least the trail is closed to ATVs so we can again enjoy the peace of the Sonoran desert.
The trail starts easy enough but with a steady climb and we stop quite often to catch our breath and enjoy the interesting geological phenomena on the way. Like the stone that seems dirty but in fact it is a mix of two stones of different colors, quite unusual.
And then the trail becomes even steeper and the quality of the road deteriorates so we take our time climbing while keeping a watchful eye for bighorn sheep on the slopes, no luck though.
There are some interesting plants on the way both moss and agave, it is fun to see how they are growing on the north side hidden from the worst of the sun.
Above us we catch our first glimpse of the water catchment build for the sheep and from here the climb becomes even steeper and worse and we are huffing and puffing when we arrive at it. So we explore the water catchment area for a while to catch our breath before the next climb to the saddle higher up.
The climb is actually easier from the catchment and soon we are in the saddle finding caches, eating snacks and enjoying the views. We also have to decide whether to try to reach the mine even higher up, if it even exists.
We decide to split and one of us does a quick run to the top. Soon it seems that at least there are some remains from the mine as the road has some wooden reinforcements and then it levels up and after one more switchback we finally see what is left of the Silver Hill mine. Not much really, just tailings and a wooden building that isn’t even standing anymore. So a bit disappointing after the tough climb, it is now time to return back to the car.
Descending is much easier if you are careful not to fall down, and soon we are back on the flatter abandoned road and are on the way to the parking. We are in a bit of a race with the sunset, trying to avoid hiking at night in this area which seems to had illegal immigrants passing previously.
We arrive at the car just as darkness surrounds us, before leaving we spend some time enjoying the moon and the stars and the beautiful night sky. And then it is back to Phoenix after a nice day out exploring this remote monument.
