Superstition Ridgeline Loop

[Barrett]

I'm in the planning stages for a 2-3 night backpack around the end of the year and was hoping to pick the collective HAZ brain.
So far I'm parking at the Lost Dutchman, hiking to First Water, bagging Battleship, camp, heading south on Boulder Canyon, then to Peralta to Fremont Saddle, camp, then off trail to pick up the Ridgeline Route back to Siphon Draw and my truck.
My two main concerns:
Water - It looks like I've got very good chances along Boulder and Peralta (Boulder Creek, Needle Canyon, Pinon Camp), but it's dry after that. If I can fill up at Pinon, I should be set, but want as much info as possible.
Connecting Peralta with Ridgeline off trail (maintaining elevation) - It looks doable on Google Earth (departing around Fremont Saddle), but almost everything does. Has anyone done this?

[RowdyandMe]

@Barrett
After Battleship I think I would head out to Charlebois Spring. It should be a great place to spend the night and refill all your water containers just filter your water.
After that I am not sure about finding water after that maybe a Bluff Springs but I wouldn’t count on it. Just so dry out everywhere right now. We need rain.

[chumley]

Plenty of people have connected Fremont with the ridgeline.

Zoom in on the map to the area between the two and then search for "all" tracks.

It looks something like this https://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=6692

Click a track and you'll be able to read a triplog if there's one linked to it.

[Tough_Boots]

It looks like I've got very good chances along Boulder and Peralta (Boulder Creek, Needle Canyon, Pinon Camp), but it's dry after that.

Unless we get some solid rain, I don't think you have any chance worth relying on for water at any of those places. If you're doing the western supes when it's been this dry, you have Charlesbois, Labarge Spring, and likely a pool in the lower Labarge box. Some scouts this weekend said they got water at Bluff Spring, too.

You're planning on spending three to four days backpacking routes that are all dayhikeable in a very popular area during peak hiking season. Is that what you want to do?

[te_wa]

water:
reliable source says there is water in the pools at the un-named spring just up the second water trail from boulder. needle canyon has a large pool, i am not sure there is water atm.. but just off boulder canyon there is a small swimming pool sized water tank in needle. you could go over the saddle that connects boulder to labarge, near the start of battleship. large pools in the labarge "box". pinon? not likely. you could cache water at fremont... there is no water along the ridgeline whatsoever.

[Barrett]

@chumley
That's what I was looking for - thanks.
It's actually so informative I no longer feel my plan is very adventurous.

[big_load]

It's actually so informative I no longer feel my plan is very adventurous.

You certainly wouldn't be the first to have done something like that, but I wouldn't discourage you from thinking of it as adventurous. You'll have to judge that for yourself when you're done, but I suspect you'll be adequately fatigued.

[Barrett]

@Tough_Boots
I thought I replied to this days ago, but now I don't see it.

Is that what you want to do?

I don't understand what you are suggesting. The Battleship and the Ridgeline are on my bucket list, and our shop closes for a week during the holidays - I take what I can get. I also am not a fan of big day hikes - the time spent driving at early and late light is when I want most to be at the best parts of the trail. I'm assuming the crowds on top of the Battleship are a bit thinner at first and last light.
Thank you for the tips on likely water sources.

[Tough_Boots]

@Barrett

I wasn't meaning to sound judgy. I was just pointing out that a lot of your route is through popular dayhiking areas. If you don't mind that-- then fantastic. Have a great trip