Al Hikes Cougar Trail and Weaver's Needle Vista Viewpoint

 

12.27.23 Cougar Trail 

Today's hike was about 5 miles on Cougar Trail that is not signed or on a map but it ties into The Lost Dutchman Trail

The lava flows across the drainage ways on this trail are really cool, you can see all the rocks that were carried along with the lava.

This was a smaller Wednesday group than usual.  You can see the Superstition Mountains in the background.

Most of the people in this group a regular hikers except Jan's niece and her great nephew that were visiting.  Clockwise from the lower left is Linda Braun (Minnesota), Tom & Mary Wellnerd (Spearfish, South Dakota), Jan's niece & great nephew, Jan (Tom's wife originally from Minnesota), Tom Wilkinson (our fearless leader from Alberta) and Walter (from Saskatchewan).

I found this drawing on the billboard by the billiards room when we got back to The Resort. Lol

This trail is on BLM land and rancher's are allowed to graze their cattle here, this is one of the longhorns that we came across.

Lunch spot!

12.31.23 Weavers Needle Vista Viewpoint

Weavers Needle is one of the landmarks in the area that Tom pointed out early on.  Was named in the 1850s after Pauline Weaver, a pioneer scout.  This formation was also know as "finger of God" or Rock Pointing to the Sky".  It's a great reference point for hiking so you can tell what direction you are going.

This was also part of Hackberry Spring Trail.  This trail is so long with all the different loops I don't think you could hike the whole thing in a day, this was the 3rd direction we came from so far and each hike was a minimum of 5 miles.  Tom said we still haven't come to all of it.

It's amazing where some of the cacti grow and can sustain life like on the wall of this canyon.

Some of this trail was pretty steep but it's always a good challenge.

You can see the tip of Weavers Needle in the background to the East.

The Superstition Mountains are another landmark we use to orient ourselves when hiking.

We get some beautiful views from up top but we dropped way down into the canyon in the foreground.

My friend Linda caught me standing in a Captain Morgan pose and took this photo.  Lol

Lunch spot!