Day 20 | April 10, 2022
24.9 Miles

From the desert canyons, the trail ascended to the higher elevations on the east side of the Superstition Mountains. There were picturesque canyons with colorful geology and panoramic views featuring the Superstition Mountains to the northwest, Picketpost Mountain to the south, and the Apache Leap Formation to the east.

The landscape had a soft, faded matte finish, a mix of earthy pastels typical of the Southwest. Cosmo and I have spent a good many days backpacking in the Superstitions in the past few years, and it felt nice to be in familiar territory.

At Reavis Ranch we joined a group of old friends who were out backpacking for the weekend. They invited us over to their camping area where they shared travel-sized whiskey (compliments of the retired pilot) and asked us questions about thru-hiking.

Leaving Reavis Ranch, I felt strong (or maybe just buzzed) and cruised downhill, passing my friends as I sped through desert grasslands, chaparral brush, and piñon-juniper woodland. We arrived at Reavis Gap at sunset. As the light faded, we set up camp and enjoyed the beautiful colors.

Day 21 | April 11, 2022
16.1 Miles

We hiked up and down through lush canyons and open vistas. There were steep climbs up rocky and rugged terrain and tricky sections where we relied on cairns to find the way.

Having climbed several challenging miles, we reached a high point at the end of Cottonwood Canyon. I was happy to find expansive views overlooking Roosevelt Lake and the long, scenic descent I would take to get there.

Two Bar Ridge

There was little to no shade during the last few miles of the descent. The sun was beating down and I couldn’t get to the lake fast enough.

Luckily, Roosevelt Lake was well worth the effort. There was a hiker hang out/camping area, a general store, cafe, and plenty of sandy beaches to soak tired feet! We grabbed snacks and drinks at the store, ate lunch at the cafe, and then jumped in the lake to cool off.