Trio scales Weaver’s Needle in Superstitions

Roy Carter (front), Mike Wolters (left) and Frank Brier pose for a selfie at the top of Weaver’s Needle in the Superstitions.

Roy Carter (front), Mike Wolters (left) and Frank Brier pose for a selfie at the top of Weaver’s Needle in the Superstitions.

Weaver’s Needle as seen from Fremont Saddle on the way back down from the Needle; photo by Roy Carter.

Weaver’s Needle as seen from Fremont Saddle on the way back down from the Needle; photo by Roy Carter.

Mike Wolters

SaddleBrooke Hiking Club members Frank Brier, Roy Carter and Mike Wolters recently climbed to the top of one of the most famous landmarks of the Superstition Mountains.

Located east of Phoenix, the majestic Weaver’s Needle is a spire that rises 4,553 feet and dominates the skyline for miles around. The trio made the technical rock climb adventure in nine hours, leaving the Peralta parking lot at zero dark thirty with headlamps and returning to their car with some daylight to spare.

Mike had this climb on his bucket list for some time and felt really fortunate to have two great hiking buddies and a bluebird day to bag the Needle. Statistics for this southern Arizona classic include 8.1 miles roundtrip and over 3,400 feet of elevation gain. The technical section of the climb was 600 feet in length.

An added treat to the day was seeing three adult Big Horn sheep and their two lambs on the vertical face of Weavers Needle.