Over the weekend of Nov. 15, the PCDS Outdoors Club went on a trip to Weaver’s Needle, a famous rock formation in the Superstition Mountains. The Superstition Mountains are one of Arizona’s most famous rock formations, and Weaver’s Needle is accessible by the Peralta Trailhead. The trip brought together PCDS high school students of all grade levels for an overnight camping experience. After properly packing all the necessary gear, the club departed on the morning of November 15 and returned the following afternoon. The trip was initially planned to take place at Flatiron, a challenging and scenic hike in the same mountain range as Weaver’s Needle. However, due to rainstorms, the trip was moved for safety reasons, as the Flatiron hike would have been extremely unsafe with the harsh rain conditions.
Although the group didn’t summit Weaver’s Needle itself, they still got very close to it and explored nearby overlooks. In total, the hike took about three hours, and the club members had to find a good campground. By the time they made it to a suitable campground, everyone was exhausted and ready to settle down. The campers first set up their tents. Then, the group focused on setting up a fire and assembling their food. The food was in dehydrated packages and had to be mixed with boiling water. After everyone ate, the group spent time around the campfire for the rest of the night until it was time to head to bed. Camping in their tents, the group had an amazing view of the night sky.
The Outdoors Club actively practices Leave No Trace (LNT) principles, emphasizing the responsibility to leave everything as it was before camping. Before leaving for the trip, senior club leaders Ben Sabol, Oliver Cartsonis, and Alexis Hernandez Delgado reviewed the key guidelines for practicing LNT. Such regulations include respecting wildlife, packing out all trash, and staying on the established trails. In addition, the club members actively looked out for and collected trash left by previous hikers. Even something as simple as finding a unique rock and taking it home would breach the LNT principles. The club leaders avoided disturbing plants and rock formations near Weaver’s Needle, reminding members that even the smallest impacts can add up in a heavily visited area. By practicing LNT on all outdoor trips, the group helps to protect the environment and ensures that future hikers will be able to enjoy the landscape just as they did.
The Outdoors Club is always seeking new members who are willing to try something new, and one does not need to have any prior experience with camping to become a part of the club. Only a certain number of students can participate in each trip, so priority is typically given to those who attend club meetings. If you want to get involved with the outdoors club, simply reach out to Sabol, Cartsonis, and Hernandez Delgado.
