November 04th, 2017

To the north I drive to the Superstition Wilderness and while driving through Apache Junction, spot today's destination, hike to that low point in the ridge, hang a right and proceed to Superstition Peak.  8 mile round trip with 3000'+ climbing.  A challenging hike and quasi adventure.

I head out on a heavily traveled Hieroglyphics Trail as dozens of day hikers head to the pools to look at the rock engravings.  On the way, I spot the Flat Iron and other prominent features. In the spring, the slope above is covered in yellow flowers. 

At mile 1.5, I reach the pools and engravings. Very cool. I had passed around 40 people but from this point forward, would see no one.  Above the pools, the trail becomes overgrown and at times, difficult to follow so I find myself off trail a couple of times but usually, it is not too hard to follow.

Looking back from where I had come, wow. Then I enter....

....ugh, a brushy section but shove myself through it and then confronted with....

....one of several "walls". Obstacles like this add to the fun of course.

Oh wow, way too far still to go and so rugged looking.  Was "Lord of the Rings" filmed here?

I enter the bottom of the canyon and follow this for awhile.  Lots of fun running into dry waterfalls and trying to figure out how to ascend.  Sometimes it is scrambling up the center but usually there is a workaround to the right or left.

Yeah, looks like just take a step up and this can be overcome up way too high for that.  Instead I crawl through the boulders on the right.

Ok, this had a pucker factor associated with it, near to the top.  Steep with lots of loose gravel and stones. I navigate my way through, reach the ridge and.....

....I can't even begin to describe it.  It takes my breath away, gazing into the interior of the Supes. I take my pack off and eat an apple and just look at the many features including....

....Battleship Mountain which is that insignificant yellow colored feature in the middle, Geronimo Head, Four Peaks, etc...  A wealth of cool destinations.  Well, next comes the balance of the hike.