The target after 30 minutes from the trailhead.
The lake near the trailhead sets the tone.
A magnified view of the lake from the top.
Fire-damaged land but attractive in its own way.
Prescott proved to be another delightful region to visit. Our stay was short which means the next visit, following some wonderful activities, should be longer. We had visited the city some years before, a couple of times in fact, but have tended to bypass it for Sedona. With short duration, we undertook what is a prime and considered a hard hike, that of Granite Mountain. It is a terrific, medium length and elevation gain hike, one worth repeating. As always the views were superb, with the going putting us through our paces while the trail very quiet although it's normally considered well-traveled. Quiet, good trails are always a delight.
While the weather has since changed from cool to hot in this region, we began in ideal hiking weather. The motel had a weather forecast on the desk forecasting full-sun and chance of rain: zero. Prior to peaking, the clouds had begun to form and grow large and dark. The wind was fairly strong, too. We encouraged the wind to blow the clouds away: at times the wind listens to us, but often it's downright obnoxious. We spent little time at the summit, enough to eat brunch, take in the sights and a few photographs and decided to get going. When Jen envisages the chance of a storm, she becomes very nervous. Her other peeve is of snakes. Other than that she's quite a 'bok' which loosely translated means: she's a sport and will invariable rise to a challenge except when she doesn't want to. That of course is because she is a woman. Males and perhaps me in particular, don't always understand the function of the mind. Frankly, I don't always understand myself.
What puzzles me is that we have done close to 1,200 hikes over the past ten years. Some have been darn difficult, dangerous, challenging and I could use a whole lot of other adverbs and adjectives, too. So why will she wake up on a morning and decide that a particular challenge intimidates her and she can't do it, usually one she has done at least once before. I'll try and explain that she is an experienced hiker, even a professional. In fact, I try anything to restore her well-earned confidence. Then she'll come across a challenge that's so tough, which has me quivering in my boots, and she'll think nothing of it. Go figure!
We moved down the trail briskly. While Jenni may groan when I walk too fast, she never will when the clouds are forming for a thunderstorm. With about forty minutes to the trailhead, she looked about, took in the black clouds and stated authoritatively: It looks like we'll make it without getting wet or seeing a storm. On the conclusion of the utterance of the last word, a bolt of lightning followed by thunder emanated from above. The timing could not have been more precipitous. I turned about to see my little angel and even in these circumstances, she had to smile. Thereafter, as a show of appreciation for her bravery and humor, I willed away the storm. We took a few drops of rain over the period but made it to the car both safely and mostly dry. Such is the power of positive thinking...until it doesn't work, which of course, is quite often.
Watson Lake through the telephoto, from the summit.
Watson Lake from a 'little closer'.
Jen said I'd been a 'good boy (relative) so I was allowed to show off a little.
Happiness. Nevertheless, the best times and most flow of adrenaline occur along the trails but off the main paths.
Somewhat haunting with the added effect from the closing-in storm.
Jen decides to leave the peak for a quick bite and departure before the storm.
What? We only just reached the peak.
Notice the urgency. Panicking ahead of the storm? No. Fear of the wrath of the little woman.
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
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