Mountain of Doom

Should we turn back before it’s too late?

This is what I keep wondering as I climb over steep, rocky slopes with my daughter, Zoe. The air is filled with an eerie silence. Then a rustling noise makes me jump. Is it a rattlesnake? A mountain lion? 

Or a ghost?

On Superstition Mountain, anything is possible.

Superstition Mountain is part of a mountain range in Arizona, 40 miles east of Phoenix. But it’s more than that. It’s a place that some believe is cursed.

Over the past 150 years, many people have come here looking for gold. Dozens have disappeared or died. Even today, four or five people go missing every year.

So what am I doing here?  

Should we turn back? 

I keep asking myself this as I climb over steep, rocky slopes.

I am with my daughter, Zoe. The air is filled with an eerie silence. Then a rustling noise makes me jump. Is it a snake? A mountain lion?

Or a ghost?

On Superstition Mountain, anything is possible.

Superstition Mountain is part of a mountain range in Arizona, 40 miles east of Phoenix. Some people believe it is cursed.

Over the past 150 years, many people have come here looking for gold. Dozens have disappeared or died. Even today, four or five people go missing every year.

So what am I doing here?

I’m a children’s book author, and in 2010, I was writing a mystery set on Superstition Mountain. I knew that the only way to bring my novel to life was to experience the place myself: to see, hear, and feel what it was like atop this barren mountain. 

At first, the trip seemed like a fun adventure. But the locals we met thought otherwise. When Zoe and I told people that we were planning to climb Superstition Mountain, they reacted with horror.

“Don’t do it!” said the hotel clerk.

“You should hike somewhere else,” said the waitress.

“That mountain is too dangerous,” warned the man at the gas station. “People disappear there all the time.”

Zoe and I tried not to worry. It was the 21st century, after all. We had cell phones, maps, and water bottles. But all the warnings made our hearts beat faster.

Were we making a big mistake?

I’m a children’s book author. In 2010, I was writing a mystery set on Superstition Mountain. I wanted to see, hear, and feel what it was like on this barren mountain. That would help me write my book.

At first, the trip seemed like a fun adventure. But the locals we met thought otherwise. When Zoe and I told them

that we were going to climb Superstition Mountain, they reacted with horror.

“Don’t do it!” said the hotel clerk.

“You should hike somewhere else,” said the waitress.

“That mountain is too dangerous,” warned the man at the gas station. “People disappear there all the time.”

Zoe and I tried not to worry. We had cell phones, maps, and water bottles. But all the warnings made our hearts beat faster.

Were we making a big mistake?

Superstition Mountain has been steeped in mystery for a long time. The Native peoples who have lived in the area for thousands of years have always viewed the mountain with awe and respect. The Apache believed it was the entrance to another world. Legend had it that something powerful protected the mountain, a being known to locals as the Thunder God.

In the 1500s, Spanish people started to arrive in the area. They were lured by a rumor that the Superstition Mountain region hid piles of gold. That rumor was likely false—and probably due to a misunderstanding.

The Spanish had heard stories from Native peoples about great riches in the American Southwest. They thought the stories referred to gold. But the Native peoples may have meant a different kind of wealth—the herds of bison they hunted for food, and to make clothes, blankets, and tools.

Even so, by the 1800s, gold seekers flocked to the area. None of them found the treasure they were looking for.

None except a man named Jacob Waltz.

Or so he claimed.

Superstition Mountain has long been steeped in mystery. Native peoples have lived in the area for thousands of years. They have always respected the mountain. The Apache believed it was the entrance to another world. Legend had it that the mountain was protected by a powerful being. It was known to locals as the Thunder God.

In the 1500s, Spanish people began arriving in the area. They had heard a rumor that Superstition Mountain hid piles of gold. That rumor was likely false. It was probably based on a misunderstanding.

The Spanish had heard stories from Native peoples about great riches in the American Southwest. They thought the riches were gold. But the Native peoples may have meant a different kind of wealth—herds of bison. They hunted bison for food, and to make clothes, blankets, and tools.

Even so, by the 1800s, many gold seekers arrived in the area. But none of them found gold.

None except a man named Jacob Waltz.

Or so he claimed.

As Zoe and I climbed up the steep, dusty path, we chatted about Waltz. Known as “the Dutchman,” he came to Arizona in the 1860s. Soon after, he apparently found gold in the heart of Superstition Mountain. 

Waltz would show up in Phoenix with his pockets bulging with gold nuggets. But where was his mine? Waltz vowed never to reveal the secret. Like fuel on a fire, his silence only fed the rumors that the mountain was home to hidden treasure. And when Waltz died in 1891, gold seekers didn’t wait long to search for it.

First to try was Waltz’s neighbor, Julia Thomas. She claimed that Waltz had told her the mine’s location on his deathbed. In 1892, Thomas set off to find it. But after three weeks of searching, she was so weak from the intense heat and lack of water that she barely escaped from the mountain alive.

Then, in 1931, a treasure hunter named Adolph Ruth attempted the feat. He headed up the mountain alone—and was never heard from again. Ruth’s skull was eventually found in a ravine, with two bullet holes in it.

Had he found the gold mine, by then known as the Lost Dutchman’s Mine? Was he murdered for it?

Nobody could be sure.

As Zoe and I climbed up the mountain, we chatted about Waltz. He was known as “the Dutchman.” He came to Arizona in the 1860s. Soon after, he apparently found gold on Superstition Mountain.

Waltz would show up in Phoenix with gold nuggets. But where was his mine? Waltz vowed never to tell. But his silence only fed the rumors that the mountain was home to hidden treasure. When Waltz died in 1891, gold seekers didn’t wait long to search for it.

The first to try was Waltz’s neighbor, Julia Thomas. She claimed that Waltz had told her the mine’s location right before he died. In 1892, Thomas set off to find it. After three weeks of searching, the intense heat and lack of water had weakened her. She barely escaped the mountain alive.

Then, in 1931, a treasure hunter named Adolph Ruth tried the feat. He headed up the mountain alone. Later, his skull was found in a ravine. It had two bullet holes.

Had Ruth found the gold mine, by then known as the Lost Dutchman’s Mine? Was he murdered for it?

Nobody could be sure.

Ruth’s mysterious death made national news, but it didn’t scare people away from the mountain. In fact, it did just the opposite. Suddenly, the Lost Dutchman’s Mine was drawing treasure hunters from every corner of the country. 

In the years that followed, many of them disappeared or died on the mountain. Some people living in the area came to believe that anyone who tried to take the mountain’s gold would anger the Thunder God and suffer his revenge.  

That’s not surprising.

Even today, the disappearances continue. Just a few months before my trip with Zoe, three men from Utah had hiked up Superstition Mountain looking for the mine. They never returned.

As Zoe and I climbed over the rocks, we thought about all the lives the mountain had taken. My skin prickled. For a moment, a stick on the path looked like an arm bone. Was that a rock near my foot—or a skull? 

It was not hard to believe the place was cursed.

Ruth’s mysterious death made national news. But it didn’t scare people away from the mountain. It did the opposite. Suddenly, the Lost Dutchman’s Mine was attracting treasure hunters from all over the country. Many of them disappeared or died on the mountain. Some people living in the area began to believe that trying to take the mountain’s gold angered the Thunder God. Anyone who tried would suffer his revenge. 

Today, the disappearances continue. Just a few months before my trip with Zoe, three men from Utah went looking for the mine. They never returned.

As Zoe and I climbed over the rocks, we thought about all the lives the mountain had taken. My skin prickled. For a moment, a stick on the path looked like a bone. A rock looked like a skull.

It was easy to believe the place was cursed.

Scientists say that Superstition Mountain is dangerous for reasons that have nothing to do with curses. It is a place of extreme heat and little water, with steep cliffs, dangerous animals, and a confusing maze of canyons. Hikers risk falling off cliffs, losing their way, running out of water, or getting attacked by a mountain lion.  

And those are just the natural ways to die. When you add gold to the picture, there is also the threat of crime—robbery and murder. 

But what about the gold mine? Does it really exist? For many years, scientists were doubtful. The mountain range was formed by erupting volcanoes and is made of hardened ash, unlikely to contain gold. Recently, however, scientists found proof of minerals, maybe even gold, beneath the mountain’s surface. 

So now, it seems possible that the Lost Dutchman’s Mine is real.  

Scientists say that Superstition Mountain is dangerous but not because of curses. It is very hot. There is little water. There are steep cliffs and dangerous animals.It’s also a confusing maze of canyons.

Hikers risk falling off cliffs. They may get lost, run out of water, or be attacked by a mountain lion.

And those are just the natural ways to die. Add gold to the picture, and there is the threat of crimes like robbery and murder.

But what about the gold mine? Does it really exist? For many years, scientists didn’t think so. The mountain range is made of hardened ash, unlikely to contain gold. But recently, scientists found proof of minerals, maybe even gold, beneath the mountain’s surface. So now, it seems possible that the Lost Dutchman’s Mine is real.

Will the gold mine ever be found? I’m not sure, and I’m not sure it matters. For me, the real treasure of Superstition Mountain lies not in the gold but in the many stories it  has inspired.

Zoe and I did make it off the mountain, and a year later, my book Missing on Superstition Mountain came out. But the mystery of the place has stayed with me. Why have so many people been willing to risk their lives based on a rumor? The lure of gold has shaped the history of lands far from Superstition Mountain.

Maybe I’ll write a book set in one of those places next.

Will the gold mine ever be found? I’m not sure. But for me, the real treasure of Superstition Mountain is the many stories it has inspired.

Zoe and I made it off the mountain. A year later, my book Missing on Superstition Mountain came out. But the mystery of the place has stayed with me. Why have so many people risked their lives because of a rumor? The hunt for gold has shaped the history of lands far from Superstition Mountain.

Maybe I'll write a book set in one of those places next.

Unlike many other metals, like silver and iron, gold doesn’t wear out. In fact, gold coins made thousands of years ago are just as shiny today as when they jingled in the purses of ancient peoples.

Unlike other metals, gold doesn’t wear out. Thousands of years ago, people made gold coins. They are just as shiny today as when they were made.

All the gold mined throughout history would fit inside only 60 tractor trailers. Gold is hard to find too. Gold nuggets can be found in rivers and streams around the world. But most of this gold has long since been snatched up. The ocean floor contains a lot of gold—but mining it is too expensive. 

All the gold mined throughout history would fit inside only 60 tractor trailers. Gold is hard to find too. Gold nuggets can be found in rivers and streams around the world. But most of this gold has already been found. The ocean floor contains a lot of gold. But mining it is too expensive.

Over the past 200 years, the discovery of gold in places like Australia and South Africa has drawn thousands of gold seekers from all over the world. One of these gold rushes, as they’re called, started in California after gold was found in a stream in 1848. Nearly 300,000 people arrived there with dreams of “striking it rich.” But gold mining was tough and dangerous, and most miners never got wealthy.

Over the past 200 years, the discovery of gold in places like Australia and South Africa has drawn thousands of gold seekers from all over the world. These events are called gold rushes. One started in California in 1848. That’s when gold was found in a stream. Nearly 300,000 people went to California with dreams of “striking it rich.” But gold mining was tough and dangerous. Most miners never got rich.

Across cultures, gold has long been valued for its glittering beauty. It was often a symbol of wealth and power. Today, gold is still one of the world’s most valuable materials. Just one ounce of it—about the weight of a slice of bread—costs nearly $2,000!

People have long valued gold for its glittering beauty. It was often a symbol of wealth and power. Today, gold is still very valuable. Just one ounce of it—about the weight of a slice of bread—costs nearly $2,000!