Seven spirited hikers braved the dust and enjoyed the cool weather and companionship on this spring hike in the northern Superstitions. From Tortilla Trailhead we walk south on the Jeep road that goes to Tortilla Ranch. On the road we can see Mesquite Ridge and the pair of buttes that are navigational landmarks.

Our turn is a primitive road that branches off to the right. The road goes west along a smooth ridgeline covered with cactus and desert shrubs. The ocotillos are blooming brightly, along with prickly pear and hedgehog cactus.

The road fizzles out on a slab of rock, leaving us in a trackless wilderness. Towering hill 3420 is ahead on the left, with a rugged canyon on our right. The buttes we’re supposed to hike to are out of sight. Can Ted find the way?

We climb the first of two hills right ahead of us, drop down to the saddle, and then start contouring around the second hill on the right, gradually losing elevation as we keep the canyon on our right. Soon the buttes come into view. “Finding them is the first test of your hike leader.” We walk the ridge down to the first butte, between two canyons.

Contouring around the buttes on the right, we cut north and then turn west onto the main part of Mesquite Ridge. From here the ridge is a gentle walk in the sky, with sweeping views in all directions that are sadly obscured by the blowing dust. Eventually we come to the end of the ridge.

The highway is only a quarter mile away, but a deep, impassable chasm separates us from the pavement. We’re also cliffed out on the west, where the canyon wall is lined with gorgeous slickrock and the streambed choked with lush, prickly Sonoran vegetation.

We stop for lunch where the rocks have provided picnic benches with a fine overview.

Escape to a tributary of Mesquite Creek.

“Let’s go.”

So we start to climb down the boulders. It takes several butt slides, switchbacks and derring-dos over loose cobblestones, but we finally make it all the way down to the streambed.

We look back. It’s amazing that we climbed down from there. “The second test of your hike leader.” Then we start heading downstream, west, toward a washed-out bridge and a Jeep road that will take us back to the highway.

The streambed has boulders, cobblestones, sand, and slickrock in various places as continue westward. There is a pool of water the size of a small swimming pool, full of algae and bugs. Shade gives us a welcome respite along the way.

Finally we see a pair of concrete bridge supports. The bridge itself is long gone. But there is a dirt road on either side.

We climb up to the road on the left and follow it northwest. The road makes a gentle walk up to the Apache Trail highway (Arizona 88), where our cars are waiting at Mesquite Flat.