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Day 23 - Superstition Mountains - Weaver's Needle

I began the day feeling tired-- perhaps a bit travel weary and sore from hiking, but also due to a self imposed caffeine detox. I drove the final stretch of the very scenic dirt road (pic1) -- Apache trail and made it to my destination of my favorite scary wilderness-- the Superstitions. I had one final four star hike to complete (according to Internet research). The plan was a 14 mile loop hike around Weavers Needle. 

The first part of the hike climbed a rocky hill with grand mountain views (pic2). I made it to the top vista overlooking Weavers Needle and then climbed down a rough trail a few miles past the base of the needle.  See the needle in pic 3.  I was anxious. The last time I was in the superstitions I had run into two rattlesnakes and I hate snakes. I was a bit rattled (pun intended) and it showed-- I was making very slow time and not enjoying myself much.  I turned on some Darius Rucker music on my iPhone thinking the noise would ward off the snakes. Music helped. 

I made it six miles out to the point where I hoped to see a side trail going east and didn't see it. I decided turn around and head back the way I had come. I climbed back to the vista point and took a photo of me near the Needle (pic 4). 

After getting back to the van, I drove an hour and a half to Aravaipa Canyon (next daily report:):) amazing).  The road to Aravaipa was a winding, long dirt road but I made it there by dusk and camped at a small parking lot near the Ranger station. I met some interesting folks there.... Chance, a long distance hiker who had hiked the Pacific Crest Trail four times and was doing a 150 mile hike through Arizona, and Harry, a retiree from Portland who was hiking Aravaipa with his wife for the first time. Harry had spent months hiking Escalante, the place of my backpacking trip, and had lots of wisdom to share. It was nice talking to other people doing the on-the-road life. 




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