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I've hiked from the 1st water trailhead to the Black Mesa Basin (via Dutchman trail). Which way to the Peralta Trailhead? PLEASE. :

Fred, I'm on the road, so working from memory here, but you should be able to just continue following the Dutchman Trail as it continues south between Black Top Mesa and Palomino Mountain where it will join with Peralta. This makes for a great thru or shuttle hike from the First Water trailhead to Peralta trailhead.

Good memory!

Follow the Dutchman 5.3 miles, to just south of Palomino Mountain

Peralta takes off to the right/west

It's another 5.9 miles to Peralta Trailhead.

That's 11.2 miles one-way

Yep that will work. It is a great hike.

Thank you all for the info regarding the trail from 1st Water T/H to Peralta T/H. It's only about 11 miles one way? I thought that I had read 16 miles. I defer to your expertise. Again, Thank you. Am I in for a steep climb up to Fremont Saddle :

Sort of steep. But anything in the Superstitions is sort of steep. It's not like the grand Canyon or anything. If you've climbed Squaw Peak, this is about comparable.

Were you asking for trail directions, while on the trail?

That's the first time I've seen that that.

I guess we should all add wireless internet to our packs now.

Good thing you didn't get lost, Search and Rescue was busy last night!

In reviewing my letter of question, I guess it sounded 'present tense'. But NO, I wasn't on the trail. I HAD hiked the Dutchman to the Basin. This year I'm going take it from there to the Peralta. Not a bad idea to carry a PALM PILOT. I generally take a cell phone AND a walkie-talkie. My wife keeps the other walkie-talkie at home, with instructions to give it to a 'search&rescue' team should the occasion arise. With her I also leave my 'FLIGHT PLAN'. Incidently, I own 1000 shrs. of PALM. So please equip yourself with a couple. I bought @ $85/shr. It's now @ $2.50.

That's OK, you'll make it up in volume!

What a cool idea - call up HAZ for trail directions while on the trail. Trouble is, to get that
we'll need cell towers on Weaver's Needle. It seems that high frequency radio only works
line of sight, so walkie-talkies aren't much use when you are lost. Avalanche transponders
work at 457 KHz, which is 'long wave' and might go round corners. Do you SAR guys
monitor that frequency if you have a hiker lost in the Supes ?

We don't monitor anything other then our own communications when searching. I carry a FRS radio that has a scan option and keep that running. Thus if you have a FRS radio and I'm looking for you, get on any channel and make a lot of noise, if you are in line of sight and within 2 miles I'd hear you. I haven't heard of other search people doing this though and I don't know if it would ever do any good.
It is a good idea to keep a FRS radio on you, and leave the channel you would use when you got lost with someone.

Yeah Daryl, THAT was the idea. At least there would be SOME kind of a signal going out. It would be better than nuttin'. If they had repeater towers, then one could climb them to get a fairly good bearing on where one MIGHT be. LOL

I highly recommend the Stewart-Carlson book on the Superstitions. Its what got me into this activity, and they do an incredible job. Well worth the $$.