Ten intrepid Trailblazers met at the Peralta Trailhead and embarked on the first Superstition hike of the season. We were welcomed back into the desert with sweeping views and shadows, empty trails , and an abundance of dry washes. We veered off the Dutchman’s Trail at the junction with the Coffee Flat Trail and traversed the flat and went up the small hill for a group photo.

At Whitlow Canyon we deviated from the main route onto the older Coffee Flat Trail, through a corral and to a water tank. When we did the same hike last October, it was raining heavily, the tank was full and the surrounding areas were green. While we saw no evidence of the Woodbury Fire on this hike, we were treated to a much browner and drier desert.

We ended up on a Jeep road and took a smaller trail left toward the junction with the current Coffee Flat Trail. A few wash crossings greeted us, but no water. We then passed through one lusher area with some cottonwoods and found the wooden trail sign marking the turn for the continuation East of Coffee Flat. Last year, the sign was positioned high in a bush. This year, it was on the ground.

We found the first and second windmills. The surrounding areas were considerably drier and browner than last year. The windmill was turning with a shriek that sounded like an injured animal. The water tank looked pretty empty. Good thing we brought our own water supply!