skyhawk1251
Sr. Member
I'm sure everyone who reads and posts to this forum is familiar with the map commonly known as "Tom Kollenborn's Monumented Trail." North is to the left in the image below. I don't know if this map is based entirely on Mr. Kollenborn's personal, on-the-ground explorations, or if it is partially/entirely based on information relayed to Mr. Kollenborn by someone else. Based on what I read in Bark's Notes, Mr. Kollenborn's map looks like an attempt to trace part of the Two Soldiers route into the Superstitions. While some trace the route onto Tortilla Mountain, Mr. Kollenborn traces the route onto Geronimo Head.
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Quote from Bark's Notes on Two Soldiers:
"So, they struck out toward the King, and struck a trail which they had been told was the proper one to take. They followed it for several miles to a creek crossing, where there was water. The trail after that, appeared to run nearly north and the King was nearly south, so while they felt certain that the trail would eventually land them at the King, it must be a long way around, and they were tired. They decided to make a short cut, went up this creek for a distance, CAME TO A WATERFALL, and could go no further. They came back down the creek, and finally go out on the side of the creek toward the King and up on a very rough and high mountain. There was no trail. They struck out, always trying to work toward their destination, but making very slow progress. They ran onto a trail and such a queer place for a trail. They concluded to follow it and see if it wouldn't lead them out of that God-forsaken country. They followed it but a short distance, and were in high hopes when the trail led them THROUGH a cave between the peaks. They went on a little further and came to a tunnel that had been walled up, with workings above and over."
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I've attempted to match Mr. Kollenborn's map with topography using Google Earth and I can't do it. Where Mr. Kollenborn has marked "The Trick", I see cliffs with sheer, overhanging drop-offs. I also see no way to negotiate the crossing of Peters Canyon that he indicates on the map. I see no reason for why the monumented section of the trail should need to zig-zag/switchback its way toward Geronimo Head. There seem to be easier route choices toward Geronimo Head. As might be expected, there is no evidence of any trails as they are marked on the map.
If anyone has had success matching the map to topography, please reply here. GPS coordinates for "The Trick" and the Peters Canyon crossing would be helpful.
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Quote from Bark's Notes on Two Soldiers:
"So, they struck out toward the King, and struck a trail which they had been told was the proper one to take. They followed it for several miles to a creek crossing, where there was water. The trail after that, appeared to run nearly north and the King was nearly south, so while they felt certain that the trail would eventually land them at the King, it must be a long way around, and they were tired. They decided to make a short cut, went up this creek for a distance, CAME TO A WATERFALL, and could go no further. They came back down the creek, and finally go out on the side of the creek toward the King and up on a very rough and high mountain. There was no trail. They struck out, always trying to work toward their destination, but making very slow progress. They ran onto a trail and such a queer place for a trail. They concluded to follow it and see if it wouldn't lead them out of that God-forsaken country. They followed it but a short distance, and were in high hopes when the trail led them THROUGH a cave between the peaks. They went on a little further and came to a tunnel that had been walled up, with workings above and over."
------------------------------------------------------------------------
I've attempted to match Mr. Kollenborn's map with topography using Google Earth and I can't do it. Where Mr. Kollenborn has marked "The Trick", I see cliffs with sheer, overhanging drop-offs. I also see no way to negotiate the crossing of Peters Canyon that he indicates on the map. I see no reason for why the monumented section of the trail should need to zig-zag/switchback its way toward Geronimo Head. There seem to be easier route choices toward Geronimo Head. As might be expected, there is no evidence of any trails as they are marked on the map.
If anyone has had success matching the map to topography, please reply here. GPS coordinates for "The Trick" and the Peters Canyon crossing would be helpful.
