Superstition Mountains: A Thunderstorm Hike

The clouds quickly shielded the sun; dark, ominous cumulonimbus clouds clumped together in the sky like scoops of dark ice cream, threatening to burst open. Rumbles of thunder echoed in the distance; an occasional bolt of lightening flashed before our eyes. Suddenly, drops of rain pattered on the windshield as we pulled into the Lost Dutchman State Park parking area. We were about to hike the Superstition Mountains with a thunderstorm looming on the horizon, and we couldn’t be more excited!

The trail guide manning the entrance station warned us of trail conditions. He explained many trails were impassable due to heavy flooding. Due to the dangers, he recommended that we hike the Treasure Loop Trail. This was a 2.4 mile loop up the Superstition Mountains and back down.

Hiking bags on our backs and rain gear donned, we began the trail up the mountain. We could see the Superstition Mountains looming above us, the pointed peaks looking quite ominous with the dark sky painting its background. Rain drops sprinkled my rain jacket. Wildflowers swayed in the wind; cacti remained still in their strong, stately fashion.

Once we reached the mountain, the rain grew more steady. Lightening pierced the black sky in bright, yellow flashes; thunder boomed louder and more frequently. Due to the weather, we only passed a few avid hikers and one hearty pup; the incredible views were ours to enjoy alone! The Superstition Mountains towered behind us, providing our backdrop; a distant mountain range stretched far in front of us; a field of cacti, of every shape and size, occupied our right; and the rest of the trail stretched to our left, prepared for hikers’ footprints to imprint its path. Eagerly, we trekked on.

Hawks circled ahead, backdropped by the stormy clouds. Rocky formations pierced the endless green fields. The clouds began to hover closely over the mountains, hiding its peaks. This truly looked like a scene from a scary movie, but I was anything but scared. I was in awe, my eyes fixated on the mountains, fields, wildflowers, cacti. I was hypnotized.

Heading back down the mountain, our eyes rested on a mountain range ahead, lying behind another endless green field of wildflowers and cacti. The skies slowly began to clear, eerie clouds replaced by fluffier, less threatening ones. I saw the sunshine attempting to peak through the clouds, blue skies visible in the distance.

Soon, blue skies were above us, and all signs of the previous storm were erased. Vanished. Glancing back at the Superstition Mountains, I noticed how unthreatening they now looked. Weather can truly change our perspective on things. Just how weather can transform a persons’ mood, it can just as easily transform a persons’ perspective. Viewing a mountain range before, during, and after a thunderstorm are completely different, and we witnessed this firsthand.

When we retell our story of this incredible afternoon, I’m always prepared for a mix of reactions. I’m prepared for the non-hikers’ response, which is something along the lines of, “That sounds dangerous!” or “Wow, I can’t believe you did that!” Fellow nature lovers usually respond with excitement or eager questions. Some may wonder why we chose to hike a mountain in the middle of a thunderstorm, and the answer is simple. We crave adventure. Adventure can be found in different landscapes, weather, backdrops. I do a lot of things that others would frown upon or consider to be “life threatening,” but I don’t see these things as such. I don’t ever put myself in real danger. I consider myself to be a smart hiker, so I know when to draw the line. I experienced more injuries BEFORE my hiking days than I have in the past four years of “adventuring.” I was struck by lightening at camp in junior high, and I broke my collar bone by falling off a bunk bed when I was four. The most I’ve injured myself while hiking was spraining my ankle, and I did that in a parking lot AFTER our hike. So my advice to fellow adventure-seekers is to simply follow your head and your heart. Your heart will whisper to you its strongest desires, and your head will keep you sharp and on the right path (no pun intended.) Combining your desires with a clear mind is key to safe and enjoyable adventuring.

Happy hiking!