“We can see you,” Ted announced on the radio as the northbound hikers rounded a bend and walked toward the picnic area.

We had started from Peralta Trailhead on a cool, crisp morning with lots of sunshine.

Fremont Saddle was our biggest climb of the day as we saw Geronimo Cave and Calico Rock on our way up.

The southbound hikers had started earlier from First Water Trailhead, walked faster, and met us a half mile south of Aylors Caballo Camp.

Weaver’s Needle is a volcanic plug. From the north or south it looks like a gigantic stone phonograph needle, with very steep sides then tapered at the top. But when you see it from the west, it’s a much more intricate structure. The main part is a mitten with the thumb separate from the other fingers. All around the base of the mitten are rock decorations – brightly colored boulders eroded into fantastic shapes.

A dozen people signed up for the joint outing with the Sierra Club and the Arizona Trailblazers Hiking Club. We took the express route on this scenic walk between First Water and Peralta trailheads. Highlights included world class views of Weaver’s Needle and the Superstition Ridgeline, colorful Palomino Mountain, the patchwork of East Boulder Canyon, and historic Pinion Camp as we made our trans-wilderness journey.

Black Mesa: we’re more than halfway to First Water Trailhead.

The weather was glorious, with the sun shining, the air clean and cool, and a light breeze all the way from Peralta to First Water Trailhead. It was a long but delightful hike: 11½ miles on the Dutchman’s Trail and Peralta Trail, with 2200' of climbing. Everyone did fine.