Miner's Needle: hiking & caching

It has been awhile since I have posted photos from a hike. We have been gone so missed a couple of hikes and some plans with friends from SD prevented us from joining a really cool hike the week before. I know that hike will be repeated, so I plan to tag along to view the crested saguaros and add to my collection of unusual/rare CS photos.

Hubby went along on the hike to Miner's Needle in the Superstitions on Friday. Some of the hikers were doing Miner's Needle to Bluff Springs Loop, a 9.2 mile hike. Others chose to hike the shorter 5.5 mile Miner's Needle to Coffee Flats Trail. Hubby chose the latter with the intent of geocaching in the area after he hiked.

He did the 9.2 miles last year.  I also did the hike last spring when the desert flowers were in full bloom. It is an awesome springtime hike. With temps getting back to the 70s at the end of this week, it did feel like spring, just minus the flowers. You can find those photos here. What I Saw on Bluff Springs Trail


But for now, here are Hubby's photos of Miner's Needle:

Miner's Needle is the tallest formation in the center of the photo.

Two saguaros framing Miner's Needle

Another view

Do you see the hole on the right of the formation?

I guess that is why it called a 'needle'

What do you see in the rocks on the left?

dog sitting on its haunches? 

man with a large hat sitting on the ground?

A trail ride 

More horses and riders on the trail

And then some Geocaching time...

This was the hide for cache #699

This palo verde trunk was the hide for #700

It was tucked up in the hole in the trunk

Container for #700

WooHoo! Congrats Hubby!