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| Hiking | 13.73 Miles |
2,136 AEG |
| | Hiking | 13.73 Miles | 10 Hrs 36 Mns | | 1.44 mph |
| 2,136 ft AEG | 1 Hour 5 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | This triplog describes the longer, alternate return route that gives you a spectacular view of Weaver’s Needle. The forecast was rain, but I took a chance and lucked out. It started clearing early, giving me fresh, cool, fragrant air, dappled sun, and beautiful cloud formations to set off the mountains. Perfect.
There was lots of water in the stream. Beautiful. Solitude.
For experienced hikers, this is an easy hike except for the nearly 14-mile distance. The climb up the mountain at the stone corral does not require bushwhacking, but it is steep. I’m 66 and I got tired — but it was still fun. In my younger days this would have been an easy hike. It’s labeled strenuous, and I understand why. This is not a hike to take a date. Don't take the girl (or boy) you’re trying to get into more outdoorsy stuff.
If you don’t have a GPS, you can do this hike — but only if you’re an experienced Supes hiker with solid route-finding ability. That said, this was more fun than other strenuous hikes I’ve done lately. The view of Weaver’s Needle on this route is spectacular.
When you get over the other side of the ridge and start down, maintain your elevation to some extent and go left. This allows you to avoid bushwhacking. When you finally drop down and get on the trail, it hits you — you’re on the Peralta Trail, next to Weavers, and a long way from First Water.
It got dark when I reached the junction where the Peralta Trail meets the Dutchman Trail. I can’t count the number of times, over a 40-year span, that I’ve hiked the last four or five miles of the Dutchman back to First Water in the dark — sometimes exhausted. I can almost do it by moonlight. It was beautiful and majestic.
A final warning: finding the start of the branch trail to Willow Springs from the Dutchman Trail requires some skill or prior reconnoitering if you don’t have a GPS. Following the trail to Tim’s Saddle and on to West Boulder Canyon also requires route finding ability if you don't have a GPS.
Full disclosure: I reconnoitered this area twice before doing the alternate return. Getting back via the regular route is dangerous in the dark (without GPS). It’s actually easier to find your way back to First Water via Peralta. On my first reconnoiter, I was out in the dark at Tim’s Saddle without a GPS. It was an interesting, slightly panicked couple hours, but I made it out. I have good night vision and some ability from years of experience. But I still almost had to sit down and wait for morning. Don’t do that. Don’t be a dumbski like me. Have a GPS and know how to use it if you’re out there in the dark. |
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