Hieroglyphic Trail

Today's hike is one we did last year in the spring. We must be in better shape now because the trail didn't seem nearly as tough as we had remembered. This trail is into the Superstition Mountains which are so named because black cats constantly cross your path, there are ladders everywhere that you have to hike under and the trail is littered with broken mirrors. Just kidding, of course! We're actually unsure as to the origin of their name. The trail starts out steep but levels off to a more gradual climb and goes up into a canyon about 2 miles away. At the end of the trail is a nice collection of Hohokam petroglyphs. The trail is misnamed as there aren't any hieroglyphs to be seen. Beneath the main area of petroglyphs are several pools of standing water fed by a nearby spring. We're always amazed to see standing water in the desert! The hike down had one exciting moment. Ross crossed paths with a swarm of bees! They didn't bother him at all and just kept flying along. He heard buzzing and saw several hundred at the tail end of the swarm. Different!

	Some of the many petroglyphs at the end of the trail.
	This critter was hanging out near the petroglyphs. It was about a foot long head to tail.
	Pool of water at the petroglyphs and the view looking back along the trail.