superstition mountains jesuit cross in cave

It seemed that for every foot we traveled forward, we traveled five feet sideways. I think the popularity of this place came to be from a film done on the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine aired on the History Channel. I was especially fascinated by the symbols and the details of the map. 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. What I realize though is, positive or negative, we are watching the show, mission accomplished by History Channel, to get us to watch itafter that they care less what we think LOL. I just was not going on that wild goose chase. If it doesn't continue, they will be lucky to break even. Bellhop-turned-treasure hunter is found dead THREE YEARS after he vanished in Arizona mountains hunting for mythical 'Lost Dutchman's gold mine'. It's not very deep but the front opening is large. She selected one of these for that purpose, and it hung in its appointed place for two or three weeks. Now all we had to do was dig, and we would surely find one of the richest and most hunted treasures in the worldthe Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine, secreted in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona. I just couldnt find a way around the point at the level where I believed that I needed to be. Cleopatra, the last pharaoh of Egypt, is one of the most iconic figures in history. This hike is located in the Superstition Wilderness East of the Phoenix area. Since the turn of the century, remnants of mining equipment, high-grade gold ore, old guns, weapons, gear and a pack train have been discovered at the site. Monument Canyon and Broadway Cave via Jacob's Trail, Brittlebush Trail, Huff and Puff Trail, and Palo Verde Trail Loop, Wedding Cake Hill via Lost Goldmine Trail, Superstition Peak 5057 via Hieroglyphic Trail, Superstition Peak 5057 (South Ascent Route), Hieroglyphic and Lost Goldmine East Loop via Superstition Peak, Carney, Hieroglyphic, Ridgeline, Lost Goldmine Loop, Wedding Cake Hill and Turks Cap Hill Loop Trail. Eventually, the Peraltas stopped venturing onto the mountains, and all the maps and knowledge of the mines exact location were lost. Translated, the words appear to say, "horse of holy faith" but actually mean "knight of holy faith," which is a clue to the identity of the person who created the Peralta Stones; and "I pasture north of the river," which is a clue to the trails starting point. Its still makes good TV, I would have done it given the chance. On a recent visit to the Phoenix area, I toured historic Route 88, the Apache Trail. His website tells how he did it: https://mollymarieprospect.com/ you may need to look up several geological terms, but the story of his search is fascinating. Rocky in the beginning but the path smooths. We shot the pictures anyway but with little hope of them turning out well. We had not seen any way around the point. My neighbor pointed to the cave a key landmark below a ledge another key landmark and we soon stood on the site which thousands of people had searched for during the last one hundred and ten years. what is interesting though is the hints of signs and topography the guys see and don't tell here, saving for later maybe? Very busy trail. I decided to call it a day. Before this expedition could return to Sonora with gold, they were attacked by a band of Apache Indians. Neolithic Stone Balls: The Northern Rosetta Stone? Ed Piper spent MANY years in the Superstitions. A fourth stone, the "Heart Map," has disconnected lines and symbols, a heart-shaped cutout and a dagger outline (which serves as a directional pointer) on one side. They left about 30 minutes later. Many tales of the Lost Dutchman mention an Apache curse which protects the sacred burial ground of Apache Indians. 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. The locals, however, refused to help them in their quest, as they believed that the mountains was the home of the Thunder God, and therefore sacred ground that could not be trespassed on. Snap that perfect picture and head back when you're ready. The team ascends a terrifying ladder to investigate a cave for signs of activity in this collection of scenes from \"The Climb.\"\"Subscribe for more from Legend of the Superstition Mountains: http://histv.co/SubscribeHistoryYTWatch exclusive videos and stream full episodes:http://www.history.com/shows/legend-of-the-superstition-mountains#SuperstitionMountainsCheck out our Facebook games and other exclusive content:https://www.facebook.com/HistoryKeep up to date with everything HISTORY by following us on Twitter:https://twitter.com/historyDon't miss a new episode! My wife and I called an end to our trip. Someone climbs that ladder to see a planted cross that was represented as authentic and a archeological relic. 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. The image intrigued me. with dirt and rocks. How we found the Peralta Treasures When the procession returned, the beasts bore no burden. In 1952, the infamous "Peralta" stone maps were discovered in the foothills of the Superstition Mountains by a man on vacation with his family. 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 to Turn Your Smartphone into a Survival Tool The Bat Cave Superstition Mountains Arizona. First mile was very rocky loose rocks. 2h 44m. By now, I had no enthusiasm for it. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. I returned, with my brother, to the site marked by the doughnut symbol in May of 1997. It's roughly 20 feet tall by 50 foot wide by 30 feet deep and shows evidence of large parties. It was only about an eight feet vertical drop, and it had foot- and handholds. ), The Desert Environment Got to make the series though! Bet it was a chore before that ladder was built! This article is the first of three in which we will revisit the Legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Ancient Origins 2013 - 2023Disclaimer- Terms of Publication - Privacy Policy & Cookies - Advertising Policy -Submissions - We Give Back - Contact us. This new evidence is linked to the stone tablets and presents another interpretation as to their meaning. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. You can follow the directions below or map your directions here. I wasnt going to fall for it. Thegoal of Ancient Origins is to highlight recent archaeological discoveries, peer-reviewed academic research and evidence, as well as offering alternative viewpoints and explanations of science, archaeology, mythology, religion and history around the globe. Extraordinary rock formations were everywhere. Explore the most popular cave trails in Superstition Wilderness with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Not a destination Im interested in, You convinced me, Im not going there!!!! That cave, however, might serve as a landmark for the Lost Dutchman. Others hold a firm belief in the existence in this mine. It would be interesting to collect all the facts. Cutting Edge Celtic Tech - 2,300-year-old Scissors Still Sharp and Shiny! Some spots bit technical. Late on the second day, we found a place where there might be a mineshaft. Beautiful views along the trail. The pictures turned out better than we expected, but they did not show a way around the point or anything else I could use. This was no ordinary pair of eyes. I had food and water. How much distance the bends and curves would add was impossible to know. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. When we arrived at the campsite, I began unloading and setting up our gear. A pair of underwear were chilling in it. This trail is perfect to introduce a kid to the joys of hiking, and beats the WWW (worldwide waste of time). Most books and stories label him as a Dutch Hunter. shrsl_ShareASale_liveWid_Init(40280, 2496875, 'shrsl_ShareASale_liveWid_wideSkyScraper_populate'); Please remember to disable your adblocker to view content from our sponsors - Thank you. Pick behind the cross on the wall. There are many symbols in and around. [Online]Available at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/14/superstition-mountains-lost-dutchman-gold-mine_n_6835264.html, Taylor, T., 2008. Great view once you get to the cave. Since this information has surfaced, we thought it would be timely to republish existing research and documents relating to the famous legend. Rock climbing. Then use the Previous and Next thumbnails to. DesertUSA Note The History Channel ran a series on the Lost Dutchman Mine. In the late 1700s, after a falling out, the King ordered the Jesuits out of Mexico. 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. How We found the Peralta Treasures (Lost Dutchman) in the Superstition Mountains Obviously, it was just another scam. The elevation gain is 800 feet--half of that is in the final approach which may involve some all-fours hiking. Plague, one of the deadliest diseases in human history, has a haunting legacy of mass sickness and destruction. I figured that the chance of me finding anything was remote. Reading through the posts, most opinions are critical of the show and the featured five. The Helsinki and Uusimaa District is the largest Finnish Red Cross District with 20,600 members and Superstition Wilderness Photos (2,566) Directions Print/PDF map Length 12.3 miElevation gain 1,335 ftRoute type Out & back Enjoy this 12.3-mile out-and-back trail near Apache Junction, Arizona. Desert Geological Terms, Home | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Hotels. Over time, their activities on the Superstition Mountains angered the Apaches, who began attacking the goldminers. It would prove to be the only place in the whole area that provided shelter, water, firewood and nearby grazing for livestock. Months would pass before I could arrange another trip. I wasnt going to fall for it again. Both canyons were almost impassable because of brush and boulders. It's not very deep but the front opening is large. Too much information matched. I had left the camera at home (as usual), and the cave wasnt included in the days mission anyway. Most of the elevation is towards the end. However, when he heard about the gold in the Superstition Mountain, he too began searching for it. There arent many straight people in the entire town. - who owns the land - Apache people ? In the next century, the Peralta family extracted gold from this mine. Earlier you get there, the better, both because of crowd and heat, Went on a Great night hike. Made it to Carlsbad Caverns last Christmas Bat Poop wooo heck of a place cheap and cheerful and absolutely draw dropping beauty good hike down made the mistake of challenging two teenagers back up didnt think it was possible to sweat in a cave but felt good stayed with them (not so good next morning) Could of waited for the elevator. Thoths Storm: New Evidence for Ancient Egyptians in Ireland? 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. Not super hard. No, not me. Super easy to get off trail as well. We had a lot of fun. Over the next few weeks, another friend studied the Peralta Stone map, and he wanted to go out to trails end. The entire show is scripted and staged. Jesuit Treasure in the Superstitions. The legend of the curse traces back to the early 1500s, when Jesuit priests from Spain began to build missions in the areas now known as Arizona and New Mexico. Motion Video Background; The color was overwhelming. This trip was a lark. (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. Rocky at first but a nice runnable trail, and after the first 1.5 miles no one on the trail. Nobody gets much in reality shows until it gets picked up and/or goes into syndication. The only thing to do was return to camp, and reaching it before either the daylight or my legs gave out was an iffy thing. More searching would have to wait until the next trip. [Online]Available at: http://www.legendsofamerica.com/az-lostdutchman.html, Paul, L., 2016. We didnt even know there was a cave there. Waltz left the mine to get more supplies, and when he returned, Weisner was found dead. Over the next several months, I made four more trips, trying to find a way to get from one canyon to the other. The trail is all the way rocky and the last half a mile up is so hard and you will scrabble. We would hike to a place I thought I might be marked by the map on the stones. When we returned home, my wife sent her photographs off to be developed. Translated, in context, the words say "you go eighteen paces" (after reaching the trails starting point); "the [canyon] wall is dangerous;" "look for the heart," a reference to a hidden heart, an emblem over the image of a horse incised on one of the other stones; and "look for the map," a reference to a second map hidden within the map incised on yet another stone. If you do venture down this gorgeous canyon, which is worth it all on its own, get ready to hold your nose and breathe! I was extremely disappointed. Eric is a Fire Fighter/EMT, so he likely lost a little money. Now all we had to do was dig, and we would surely find one of the richest and most hunted treasures in the worldthe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine, secreted in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona. There are many stories about the Lost Dutchman Mine, as they have been accumulating over the years. There's a prospect shaft at the back of the cave. Although his primary interest is in the ancient civilizations of the Near East, he is also interested in other geographical regions, as well as other time periods. Read More. My wife and I only hiked the first half mile. Once I descended from the top, I felt as if I had entered a whole new world. There are great views from this vantage point as well as the fun exploring this shallow cave and the interesting wave rock formation within. You are using an out of date browser. I tried to remind myself that the Lost Dutchman was just a figment of someones overactive imagination. Little did I know how much that book would change the course of my life, for that was where I first discovered pictures of the enigmatic Peralta Stones, several small slabs bearing finely incised images, several Spanish words (some misspelled), a heart-shaped cutout and a heart-shaped inlay, and apparent map lines and symbols. 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. This was wild country, unlike anything I had ever encountered. Such a thing would have saved me a lot of trouble. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. They were later found dead, with their bodies mutilated, and decapitated. Jesse Capen, a bellhop from Denver, disappeared three years ago after heading off to find the 'Lost Dutchman's' gold mine in the Superstition Mountains, Arizona - which has evaded adventurers for . We had to leave. LOL! Nice cactus forest for the first mile and a half. Its all in the thrill of the hunt-that's why we are all on T-Net and the guys on the show are just like all of us..Maybe after the show we'll find out what they really learned on their fact finding adventure!!!! For some, the Lost Dutchman Mine is just a myth, one that perhaps grew over time until it defied belief. I don't think the show is going to find much at all, Its all about the exploits of the guys to make a show, sorry to burst the bubble of you believers of the legend. Piper spent his years looking for that Jesuit Cache. The early morning shadows on Superstition Mountain add to the free wilderness show. The Broadway Trailhead and the Jacobs Crosscut Trail is used to access the cave. This time, I found a possible place to descend from the top, enabling me to make my way around the point. Lost Dutchman Mine clues You must log in or register to reply here. After that detour, I headed back out on Jacob's Crosscut and the surface was much kinder. If it doesn't continue. The priests objective was originally to establish missions and to Christianize the natives. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in search of its rich gold. I decided that whatever had been incised into the stone surfaces originally had been abraded off, leaving only traces of meaningless images. Directions Park information Acreage 160,200 acres Contact (602) 225-5200 Helpful links Website More filters 1 Top trails ( 8) Wave Cave Trail The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. Obviously, the small canyon merged with the large canyon where it made a curve, creating a long narrow point between the two. How To Get To The Wave Cave. I looked for some kind of possible trail marker and could find none. It's roughly 20 feet tall by 50 foot wide by 30 feet deep and shows evidence of large parties. 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Wayne has a good job, so he likely lost some or broke even. I just finished watching the season finale. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); As a writer for DesertUSA, I've come across numerous references and stories associated with the Lost Dutchman Mine. I began laughing. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the search for gold was at an all-time high. He had no instructions. I also found that the side of the stone with the word "DON" on it and the reverse side of the heart stone had not been altered, and the images offered no apparent useful information. I felt sure that we stood at one end of the trail, which is indicated on the map by a doughnut-shaped symbol, but we could find nothing else which seemed to tie to the map. Ever wonder how long and how many people it took to haul 200 million in gold up to that little cave? It's roughly 4 miles roundtrip to the cave and takes 2 to 3 hours. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 4 h 54 min to complete. Wu Mingren (Dhwty) has a Bachelor of Arts in Ancient History and Archaeology. Check out this 19.8-km out-and-back trail near Apache Junction, Arizona. There were a lot of loose and unstable rocks near the top. I put the whole thing out of my mind. Whoda thought? The hike to Broadway Cave reinforces Arizona's best qualities: that everything is out there to try to kill you (sharp jagged rocks, plants, animals, the sun). I contacted the A. L. Flagg Foundation, the curator of the stones, in Mesa, Arizona, to find out whether I could see them first hand. The Flat Iron in the Superstition Mountains as seen from the Lost Dutchman State Park in Arizona, USA. The Peralta stone maps Always tough. Rocky at start. I have hiked, backpacked and canyoneered the Superstition Mountains for more than 20 years and know that area very well. It all started one winter day in 1994 when my wife and I stopped in a rock shop in Holbrook, Arizona, where we purchased a copy of Fool's Gold by Robert Sikorsky. Thorne managed to find the goldmine, as he had taken note of a strangely-shaped rock formation as his blindfold was removed. Heat Acclimation (Combating the Desert Heat), DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Either way, following Waltzs death the mine was called the Lost Dutchman Mine, as Dutch and Deutsch (German) are said to have been pronounced the same by English speakers in America. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It looked as small as a dragonfly. It seems that the priest did find gold, though it is unclear if it was from the fabled mine. At the very edge of the photo, I discovered a pair of eyes in a very vague stone face. The North American Deserts ), The Desert Environment by gollum Wed Sep 01, 2010 12:07 pm, Post The Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine. It was dangerous. Beautiful trail!! The Superstitions are aka The Superstion Wilderness Area a part of the Tonto National Forest so any Apache guarding them are Federal park employees and there are probably at least a few. We never found out what happened. Things get easier after the trail forks to the Broadway Cave. It seems that the Apache knew where the gold mine was located, as demonstrated by the next story. Actually I saw it on a television show on the History channel about the Lost Dutchman Mine (from 2015 I think). The Heart Map has a cross a symbol for a church engraved on the back side. At this point, I suspected that a crescent landmark on the Peralta Stone map would show the way to the mine. Thanks, Dana! Combined, the word "DON" and the cross mean "church grant." I knew that there had to be some way to reach the ledge. That was the first time I believed I might be able to solve the mystery, but by now, I was completely exhausted. Dating The Peralta stone maps Myself i would have been found dead with eighty pounds of gold in my makeshift pack that I wove from cactus and sage brush!~ HAHAHA, History - Legends & Lore of the Superstitions. The Search For The Real Facts Theyve always looked at me kind of strangely, but its never bothered me. If they really climbed up into the cave I would be impressed. And if it was filmed without permit, in the SWA, then it becomes a criminal act under Federal jurisdiction. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. (The book has since been reissued under the title Quest for the Dutchmans Gold.) There are white arrows spray painted on rocks to help guide you towards your destination. Desert Geological Terms, Home | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Hotels. Then turned to gravel with a few rocks. Bat cave with ladder This cave (really an alcove) in the southwest flank of Superstition Mountain can be seen while driving southeast on US-60 in Apache Junction. We had to clear the rocks from above us, and then we started to dig.