And here we are on our first hike in the Superstition Mountains, which are east of Phoenix. Lots of legends about these mountains but today we’re just on a hike. Up at 6:30, breakfast and we’re off. We’ve heard that there is an unmaintained road leading into the trailhead but, when we find it, it is a mostly smooth, slightly washboardy, gravel road which we find delightful compared to what we expected.
We have read that this is the trailhead for one of the most popular hikes in this area so were expecting many more but found only 6 or so cars in the trailhead. We planned to take the Bluff Spring Trail to the Dutchman to the Terrapin to the Peralta, a counterclockwise circle route so that we might be able to return in the shade of the trees lining Peralta should it be really sunny. It’s a 12 mile hike over somewhat rough terrain in November so we weren’t sure we would need shade but, what the heck - why not? Luckily this was our plan because we missed the sign for the Peralta Trail right at the beginning and headed up the Bluff Springs. Is this a good omen or what?
Shortly into the trail, we met a guy returning down the trail who identified himself as a Search and Rescue Ranger just checking the trail and stashing some equipment on the trail. He, of course in his official capacity asked us where we planned to hike, how much water we had and tried to assess our abilities on the trail. We told him our plan and he told us that it was a long trail and probably thought we might not be able to make it. Well, that was a challenge.
The trails here are not like those in Sedona, wide, smooth and easy to follow. These are very rocky, narrow and at times difficult to find. One of the canyons we traveled through is called: Boulder Canyon - aptly named and indicative of the type of terrain we would find all day. Since this area used to be volcanos, it stands to reason that it is composed of lava flows, ash layers, loose rock and boulders and other volcanic deposits. In other words, it is hard and rocky. Luckily we hike with poles which made it much easier, especially trying to find secure footing going down a slope with 1” - 4” slippery rocks. And they were great for pulling us up slopes over boulders.
We were 3 miles into the trail when I felt a small tap on the inside of my right ankle bone. I looked down and saw about 30 cactus spines sticking out of my sock and shoe. And on my left ankle also. What had I done - straddled a cactus? Not hardly. So, I sat on a convenient rock and began to pull the spines out of my right shoe and sock while Gary worked on my left shoe and sock. I was sure that I had seen one sticking into my right ankle bone, but in the process of trying to remove my sock so I could get at it, I lost sight of it. How can a cactus spine get into my rubber soles and leather uppers of my hiking boots? And, they were tough to pull out. (We plan to take tweezers on our next hike.)
They were tough little buggers: light colored and hard to see, tightly embedded and closely spaced. Ugh. I felt my ankle, tried walking and couldn’t feel anything that would impede my hiking. So, on we went.
The territory through which we were hiking was pretty rugged and we saw only one other couple on the trail. We spoke with them about the trails since they lived in the area and hiked a lot. They also told us that the trail we were on was pretty long. But they also told us about a ‘big cactus which was just off the trail they were on. Sounded intriguing.
There were some spectacular sights on the trail however. The most dominant feature in this area is the Weaver’s Needle, a huge monolithic stone rising above the two valleys which are on either side of it. Since the loop we were on is called the Weaver’s Loop, it dominated our entire hike. But the Superstition Wilderness was pretty spectacular also.
We enjoyed the hike but it was rough and we were constantly thinking about the time. We wanted to be off the trail by nightfall since this trail would be a terribly tricky trail at night. We had headlamps but didn’t want to have to use them.
We finally turned the last corner and looked up at the saddle we had to reach before our highly anticipated downward slope to the parking lot and our waiting car. It seemed so far away - ouch.
Our feet sped up a bit as we were anxious to get to the end of this hike. Back at the car, I wanted to talk with that Search and Rescue Ranger to tell him that we did indeed make it. But, what were the chances of that? In an area as populated and as large and the Phoenix metro? And, what was he stashing on the trail? Actually our chances were 100%. Read on.
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