This was one of the tougher trails but also very rewarding in visuals and in meeting the challenge. One cannot stress it sufficiently but much, if not a great portion of an adventure, is in meeting the challenges presented. The day-hikes, especially when we add rock climbing addenda, provide something that in most other circumstances is considered negative—instant gratification. We submit a number of hours in a day sweating and testing oneself to try to meet nature's challenges is a positive—earned gratification. Anyway, the reward after a day on the slopes certainly gives us the feeling that something special occurred. Fortunately, maybe unfortunately, the feeling wears off overnight so the next day becomes a new beginning with new challenges.
First target.
Early days as we don't just look for the target but try find the trail.
Type of scene that makes an impression—a green one in a desert as we return down to the trailhead.
Random thoughts and musings on/from the trails.
Bear with me as I recount childhood incidents that reflect in today’s world—some interesting, others controversial—but at least honest and without malice or prejudice. Wouldn’t it be nice to speak frankly, in a positive manner, and not end up insulting some person or group who are self-appointed guardians of the latter?
Perhaps a better question is why do we tend to form groups, cults and generally, separate ourselves? I have thoughts on that but will defer to when I'm feeling more courageous.
Living in South Africa during the 50’s through the late 80’s, one of the advantages was not having access to television, until 1975. Whilst I believe the principle of barring the medium was incorrect, it did allow children to at least be free of that influence and spend more time engaged in reading, and conversing and playing with friends. The principle was wrong but the result turned out, I submit, positively. We also did not have iPads and Smartphones but seemed to have survived. Go figure! (Continues at end...)
Jen hits the first of three ascending peaks.
What to make of this scene? Let's get to the top and see for ourselves. (Second peak)
A bit of struggle as it steepens dramatically.
Saguaro and cholla country on the slopes.
Another favorite scene, a little mesmerizing.
Balancing rock? Actually, no. Jen stands behind holding it in place for the shot.
Captivating. We turn around for the shot after returning from beyond that peak.
The land of the cactus.
We were way above the waterfall but only spotted the water from below.
Shadow mountain or mountain in shadow.
One of the games we often played was ‘cowboys and Indians’ and when we needed variation, ‘cops and robbers’—and here is where I tread on precarious grounds. I learned all about these games from Hollywood via the movies. Apparently, Hollywood has moved on and it is no longer acceptable. Anyway, the correct terminology for Indians is Native-Americans. I should research this but wonder what Native-Americans feel about this naming convention. Does it accord them a higher level of respect? I might guess they would be far more concerned about the effect of European arrivals on the continent viz-a-vie their ancestors. Then again, what do I know.
All I would offer is that I don’t care what a person is but rather how that person behaves. Give me Judeo-Christian values (I’m not talking about religious rituals), the rest as one sage mentioned, is commentary. I like all good people. Fortunately, I stopped playing ‘cowboys’ a long time ago so I have not been put to the naming test in recent times.
What triggered this thought was when playing ‘robbers’, we would cover our faces with a bandana or hanky. That made one into a crook or bank robber. When we visited Kathmandu last year, the city was so dusty that many citizens walk around looking like bank-robbers. When walking about local towns and cities these days, we’re seeing an awful amount of people playing ‘cops and robbers’, too or coping with the dust or perhaps, there’s a virus in the air. How we all long for the days when we could listen to the song ‘Love is in the air’ and enjoy it literally.
On the trail the other day and in a Walmart in Payson, Arizona, we met two gentlemen respectively. The former, Ken, a retired marine helicopter pilot had rendered service in Vietnam. We spoke at the trailhead—he was going fishing while we were fishing for a peak. We spent at least twenty minutes conversing with this Tennessee native and quite frankly, it was a privilege. I did mention to him that I read some people say the virus is the worst thing to have happened in the United States. While it is a terrible scourge, we have become so spoiled these days that many have no idea of the every day suffering of a large number of people generally. To have lived through any of the wars, even worse, to have put one’s life on the line each day while existing in harsh conditions makes the comment rather immature. Confined to one’s home, many luxurious and with all the benefits of modern living, hardly compares with life in foxholes while explosions and flying bullets seek to kill or maim a person. And when the bullets cease momentarily, the living conditions hardly improve. Perhaps one of the reasons the generations of WW2 were so special. Enough of that. What a pleasure to have met Ken.
We got to converse with Conrad in a supermarket aisle. How these things occur, who knows? But that they do makes life so much better. He grabbed my hand to shake it when I was leaving saying 'I don't believe in social distancing'. Funny, he is a nurse. It was a pleasure to return the gesture. After departing from him, I had to find Jenni, who apparently, had had enough of our conversation. That’s when a person realizes how large the stores are. While searching, I came across a long line of shoppers with trolleys filled to various degrees. I wondered about this unusual gathering as they were nowhere near the cashiers. I asked an employee, “What’s with this line of shoppers?”
“They’re waiting for toilet paper,” he replied. Now I’d seen it with my own eyes.
Following my discussion with Conrad, it got me thinking about the media. Although we don’t watch television, we read extensively and are aware of the political reporting and commentary. In a rather bold statement, a person of my ilk can easily come away with a negative view of the United States should one follow the news, the commentary and of late, the extremely high level of acrimony abounding. We are fortunate because when we meet the real people, one comes away with a far different and positive perspective of the country and many of its inhabitants. We mentioned it the other day in a blog that humans don’t tend to do well when seeking and placed in the limelight although many of us consider it a goal.
The other day we were hiking up a pretty steep incline, heading toward a trailhead. Funnily enough, the hike for us was to a trailhead. That's what can occur when the starting point is 12 miles from where we parked our vehicle. We have unusual times which often turn into magnificent occasions. It allows for more discovery than otherwise. At the end of our climb, we sat on the ridge next to a tower and ate brunch. We don't eat at many restaurants but we sure eat at a variety of locations. Seldom are the venues comfortable but always afford wonderful scenery to close the gap should we not be sated. In addition, sometimes not unlike a snake, we curl around or on a rock and take ten minutes shut-eye. There’s a price to pay for it—it can be extremely difficult to call the muscles to order and get back on the feet. Who said life is without challenges after 60?
A van pulled up near where we were dining and Zachary of Atlanta joined us. We thought he was there to evict us from the towers. Another interesting person indeed. He travels with his Panamanian parrot. He'll arrive at a trailhead, park and then head off on trail without the parrot. We asked to meet Chilly, especially as Jenni had a childhood fascination for the species. Of course, many amusing stories followed making our time with Zack beneficial as occurs frequently. And a thank you to a young couple from Ohio who stopped their vehicle to offer water and assistance. Jenni is obviously showing her 55 years. Actually, in the two days of accumulating 18 miles with nearly 6,000 feet of elevation gain, she has never been better.
Once again, meeting people from different 'walks' (hikes) of life add so much to our experiences. There are so many fascinating people inhabiting this world and each makes a difference. I don’t know the effect upon us should we not have met so many different nationals and locals—certainly lesser experienced, we would guess.
Returning to modern life, it also seems that we are no longer judged on our values and behavior. Instead, a person’s political and philosophical outlook determines whether that person is acceptable or not. What happened? Where is liberty or does she stand alone in New York holding a torch to previous ideals now considered passé? Washington, Jefferson, Trump (oops, skip the last one), et al. Have they been dumped too? Of course, many of us are supposedly 'much wiser than earlier generations' and ever so sensitive. It may seem frivolous but it’s almost as if someone who only eats chocolate ice-cream will look down upon a vanilla connoisseur. Hey, fellas, it’s good to have different views and yes, it can be frustrating—but it makes us unique. Remember though: Don’t forget the values no matter how old-fashioned they may seem to the modernists.
Getting back to my youth, I learned something that influences me to this day. Whether this lesson was the only catalyst, I don’t know, but I doubt it. Nevertheless, I just remembered the incident and therefore, it resides somewhere deep inside of me and resurfaced. I had two male cousins about 4 and 6 years older than me. Obviously, I looked up to them and when I was in their company, I felt good. The younger cousin had a pellet gun (BB) and he brought it over to our house one afternoon. At the time, he was 14 and I was close to ten years old. We went into the backyard (garden) and he showed me how to shoot birds. After his second or third attempt, he brought down a small garden variety critter. Just at that moment, his young sister, Sandra, who noticed the falling bird began to scream at him and ran off to call her parents. He did not think he had done anything wrong but she made it clear how cruel she considered him. Silently, I agreed with her.
We often meet hunters on the trails. Obviously, I dislike the concept other than of course, when performed for survival. At the same time, what other people do in their pastime and as hobbies is not my business. While I dislike and disagree with it, (I shall defend their right to hunt within the law, Monsieur Voltaire). Nevertheless, every time we come across a person hunting, I hope they miss the target. It reminds me of the time we were walking up a slope and came across a Paiute Indian (oops, Native American). He had a rifle in his hands and after conversing with him, we took off again and perched ourselves on a ledge high above. Then it struck us—no, not the bullet—we could be an unintentional target. ‘Duck, Jen’. When we returned to the car and drove off, we came across a herd of mule deer. Phew! They survived but we nearly knocked a couple of them over as they darted across the road.
I think I wanted to mention something important at the outset but forgot (?). Being in the United States, the west in particular, has enabled us to see, touch and experience much that we read about during our youth. To have hiked along the Apache Trail, spent time in Apache Junction, walked and talked with a woman from the great Navajo nation, (and literally hundreds of other places and people), travelled frequently along Route 66 (although that doesn’t do it for us), and having met so many of the country folk, not just city slickers—it has all given us a peek into the earlier days of this country. In a way, it has allowed us to live in the period of history we studied or watched on the big screens. I don’t necessarily know what it means. But I do know: ‘It’s been an incredible ride, an amazing experience.’
Thank you to the many delightful world citizens we've met...each in their own way, has made a difference.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
A picture taken before Roosevelt Dam which was most impressionable. We leave you with it.
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