Beyond Outdoor Pursuits: Superstition Mountains, AZ with James Bauman

My friends from high school and I had been wanting to go on a backpacking trip for a few years now, but being unable to rent a car, finding a place to backpack where you also can uber to is admittedly challenging. We settled on a 5-day, 38-mile loop in the Superstition Mountains just outside Phoenix, Arizona. Equipped with knowledge from previous OP trips and extensive YouTube research on the area, we were dropped at the trailhead and ascended 4,000 feet in elevation (part of it in the dark). Day one delivered crater-sized blisters and the late-night discovery that we brought two tent flies instead of a tent body. Nevertheless, we slept under a blanket of stars with the Phoenix skyline visible in the distance, and by day two, we were trekking ten more miles along rugged ridgelines deeper into Tonto National Forest. 

We each hiked in with 18 liters of water to sustain us until we reached a spring on day 3, but the combination of hot weather, tough terrain, and the added 40 pounds of water on our backs quickly drained our reserves (not to mention making our muscles very sore). Worried that we were out of water for at least the next day, we hiked to a nearby road and a quick detour to the grocery store via uber became part of our 5-day journey. We pressed on for three more days, winding through canyons and along dried riverbeds surrounded by the vast beauty of the Arizona desert. When we reached the trailhead on day five, I felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment and gratitude. The trip wasn’t flawless or without challenge, but it brought adventure, growth, and bonding that I think speak to how the most meaningful experiences often come from trying something new and taking that step outside. 

By James Bauman, ’28, First Year OP Trip Leader