A lucky 13 early-rising Trailblazers assembled before 5:30 AM at the meeting spot and were ready to hit the trail by 6 AM. We were by no means the first cars at the Peralta trailhead.

We started on the Bluff Spring Trail and hit Cardiac Hill with a bang, quickly rising to scenic heights with great views of the parking lot. The climb was made easier by the fact that it was only 67 degrees at 6 AM.

We continued on our way on the well-marked trail when the front of the group hit a wash (Barks Canyon was dry of course in the spring, 2018). Two very confident hikers crossed the wash and started up a hill and six of us followed. I didn’t remember the trail being that steep or poorly groomed, but the front hikers seemed so sure this was the way.

After almost half a mile, with a steeper ledge on the horizon, I checked my previous track of this hike and realized we were seriously off trail. With the wonders of radio communication, we got our group of eight back together, called the other five hikers to let them know they were now in the lead, and made our way back to the actual trail. We gained an extra 0.8 miles and some pretty views on a trail that would have led us back to the Peralta Trailhead eventually.

We went back to Plan A—the Bluff Springs/Dutchman’s loop and after a nice slog up a hill, met the rest of the group for a quick snack break. We then continued onwards, breaking for another snack at the junction of the Dutchman’s Trail in a nice green riparian zone (again, no water this year).

Our next landmark view was Miners Needle (stopped for group shot) and the three bears as we walked along a ridge. The last few miles of the hike were tougher, as the temperatures soared into the 90s and the breezes abandoned us. The little hill near the end was not welcome, but views from above the parking lot were.

We were all back at our cars before 11:30 and went our separate ways as the mercury climbed. We felt accomplished, having had a nice quick Superstitions hike at the cusp of summer heat.