When I set eyes on the Goldfields for the first time in 1991, it was love at first sight. Today’s hike was the same way, with great weather and ample picture opportunities.

18 nimble Trailblazers set out from Blue Point Trailhead on a gorgeous autumn day. We started walking south on Forest Road 10, then walked a horse trail that looked promising until, alas, it took us back to FR 10. Later we left the road, bushwhacking, eastward.

Bajadas are formed when alluvial fans flowing down from the mountains coalesce. As we soon found out, crossing a bajada against the grain involves a lot of ups and downs to get across washes.

Onward! Ted pointed out Peaks 2290, 2662, and 2578, all glistening in the morning sun. Most peaks in the Goldfields aren’t named, so we have to rely on the numbers printed on the USGS topographic map. Each number is the elevation of the peak in feet above sea level.

Continuing east, Ted dropped down into the wash he had hiked last time, when he saw the elusive Overlook Arch. The arch was high up on the left side of the canyon that flows down from Peak 3192. That hike also featured an attempt to climb the slickrock wall southeast of Peak 2578. We didn’t go there today.

Everyone else climbed up the south slope of the canyon. There they found another arch, and a cave.

We decided to split the group. Quy, Lance, Jim, Monika, Suzanna, Debbie, John, and Tamar would walk back to the trailhead with Ted, while Lin, Chris, Sally, Chip, Jessica, Mark, Eileen, Bruce, and Michael would explore the cave and try to find the Overlook Arch.

Ted’s group went down to cross the canyon, then up on the north side. Here we found smooth walking, since we were traversing a bajada with the grain. It didn’t last. So we dropped down into a wash which wasn’t too bad. It took us to the power line which goes from Stewart Mountain Dam to Apache Junction. Just beyond the power line was a dirt road used for maintenance.

We walked the road for a short distance. But it goes northeast and we were going northwest, so we left the road and climbed up on a smooth ridge. There we found a horse trail going the right direction! The horse trail took us down to a wash, then an unmarked road branched off to the northwest, toward the trailhead.

The road took us across Bulldog Canyon, to a confusing maze of roads and trails. Soon we were back at Blue Point Trailhead.

The Overlook Arch? No one saw it. Other hikers have looked for the arch, without success. Apparently it’s no longer there.

Thanks to Bruce Wilczynski and to Michael Humphrey for serving as deputy leaders for the cave group.

Thanks to Quy, Lance, Jim, Monika, Suzanna, Debbie, John, and Tamar for walking back to the trailhead with me.

Each group included a worn-out hiker on the way back. Thanks to everyone for helping.