Weavers Needle is a column of rock that forms a distinctive peak visible for many miles around. Located in the

Superstition Mountains The Superstition Mountains () is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the ...

east of

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

, Weavers Needle was created when a thick layer of tuff (fused volcanic ash)—a

volcanic plug A volcanic plug, also called a volcanic neck or lava neck, is a volcano, volcanic object created when magma hardens within a Volcanic vent, vent on an active volcano. When present, a plug can cause an extreme build-up of high gas pressure if risi ...

—was heavily eroded, creating the spire as an erosional remnant with a summit elevation of . It is set in a desert landscape of cactus and

mesquite Mesquite is a common name for some plants in the genera ''Neltuma'' and '' Strombocarpa'', which contain over 50 species of spiny, deep-rooted leguminous shrubs and small trees. They are native to dry areas in the Americas. Until 2022, these ge ...

bush, with large

Saguaro The saguaro ( , ; ''Carnegiea gigantea'') is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus ''Carnegiea'' that can grow to be over tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains ...

cacti particularly prominent. The peak was named after mountain man

Pauline Weaver Pauline Weaver (c. 1797 – June 21, 1867), born Powell Weaver, was an American mountain man, trapper, military scout, prospector, and explorer who was active in the early Southwestern United States. Several geographic features in Arizona are na ...

. Weavers Needle has played a significant role in the stories of the

Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the Southwestern United States. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east o ...

. The Needle's shadow reportedly indicates the location of a rich vein of gold, and many treasure hunters have searched for it. The hunt for gold around Weavers Needle has been pursued by hundreds (possibly thousands) of people. Weavers Needle has a large split in the side that makes it look like it has two tops, not one. This can only be viewed from the side. She was depicted by artist Don Rosa in his story "The Dutchman's Secret."https://inducks.org/story.php?c=D+98202 Weavers Needle can be climbed as a four-pitch route. Each of the pitches is rated a 5.3 or less, with the second pitch being more of a class 4 scramble. The route is trad (traditional climbing), and opportunities for protection with traditional gear are ample. No permit is required to hike to Weavers Needle, to climb, or to camp at the top. Highly experienced climbers will often free-solo, and rappel from the fixed anchors at the top. Despite the relatively low rating of the climb, this is not recommended for beginner or intermediate climbers. The area surrounding Weavers Needle was burned in the Sawtooth Fire in June 2020.

References

External links

Weavers Needle
GemLand. {{Mountains of Arizona Superstition Mountains Landforms of Pinal County, Arizona Tonto National Forest Mountains of Arizona Mountains of Pinal County, Arizona

See also

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External links