61.06 Arizona: Havasu City: A Circuit including Lizard Peak, plus at least 3 other tops.

From one of the high points, Lake Havasu and the Colorado River. California is on the opposite side of the water.
A view of Lizard Peak (left) and other peaks which we traversed from the right. We have reached the peak from along 5 different routes. This view is from the opposite side of Lake Havasu.
We’ve often stated, or more precisely, thought that on each day out on the slopes, we will see and experience something new, something different, and invariably, unique. We remember in the early days, should we return to a hike already completed a while back or even repeated recently, we wondered about the need for a camera. After all, what could be different on this latter occasion. Yes, well, think in that manner and before long you will realize you’re a fool or in this case, yours truly. I often look toward the cloud formations in the sky and make a silent statement to myself that the pattern I'm witnessing has never been seen before…ever. Sure, similar shapes and sizes have occurred but not the exact visual...(continues below.) 

And you love the Colorado River...why?
Glancing from the peak toward the north-east of the city.

Captivating from wherever we find the views.
Jen making her way to the beginning of the climb.
One of the rewarding sights (sites?).
One of the options for returning. This trail is used less frequently than most to reach/return -from Lizard Peak. It makes sense.
On a narrow edge, Jen sits to gather her strength before descending. These are not situations that make me feel a good husband.
'Islands in the Sky' or...in the water.
Downhill all the way...how about some uphill?
Golden Rocks and age.
  Since we commenced Hike-about-61, close to 3-weeks ago, we have not come across more than a few hikers on the mountains. In some places, we've been alone for the whole period. On our second day in Tucson, we came across a pair of female volunteers who proved to be charming and very helpful. Jen and I had disagreed on a route to follow; they were able to straighten out one of us whose thinking had strayed from the path. We walked with the couple for about twenty minutes and spent the whole period exchanging stories. It was a very pleasant experience and certainly added to the enjoyment of the Blackets Ridge challenge, a rather steep and tough hike. On our return to the hotel, an email was awaiting us inviting us to dinner at the home of one of the volunteers. 

  To say it was a rather unusual email might be an understatement. Besides a number of interesting points included in the text was the following comment: "My husband was asking, 'They’re not Republicans, are they?' I myself am interested in hearing about how people with differing political views feel . . . but these 3 (husband and odd couple) are rabid liberals," she wrote. For a moment, I felt like Sidney Poitier in 'Guess Who's Coming to Dinner.' 

  We provided a frank and truthful reply, declined, but the primary reason being that the occasion was on the Sabbath. We took about 30 minutes to compose our reply. Time spent with this person would have been wonderful; time with the husband and the two guests would have been challenging. 

  On the following hike, we met a retired musician who had been involved with some of the big names in the industry. Not only was he a pianist, but a lawyer, too. Is that possible? Our few seconds greeting turned into twenty minutes of further fascinating discussion. On the fourth hike, at the trailhead, we noticed a guy standing at his truck with the hood up. We asked whether he was ‘okay’ and when he gave the thumbs-up, parted. An hour later, perhaps longer, we met him again. He was on his way back along Soldiers’ Pass trail but he was a runner. We spoke for a long while, too. He is the first person we’ve met that follows a lifestyle similar to our own. However, he is on his own and does not hike/climb mountains, much preferring to travel about and jog. 

  On the next hike, our first in Lake Havasu City, we met Kathy, a charming woman married to Jeffrey who was injured at the time, therefore, at home. The couple are from Montana. Over a period of thirty years, they taught schoolchildren in American schools in many countries, the Congo and Egypt, just two of many foreign destinations. She was an interesting and obviously, a well-travelled woman. Loved being with her. 

  As I write this, a few hours ago, we made our way on a truly glorious hike over a number of low peaks, surrounded by attractive desert and the stunning water of the lake and the Colorado River. When we reached the shoulder below the first peak, we came across 5 people in conversation. We offered greetings and one thing led to another. Tom, a youngish man exclaimed, “Didn’t I meet you two at the main trailhead a year ago?" We looked at him more closely as we had recently greeted the group and not focused on individuals. What a coincidence! It was Tom indeed. We remembered Tom, the cyclist, today a hiker, with his wife and friends. What a coincidence. What a lovely moment. Our little group swopped stories and when we parted, once again, we felt elated. 

  Fortunately, we have experienced a number of situations that are fulfilling, educational and that build one’s faith in humanity. Above all, we did not have to think about the context of the chance meeting, whether anyone was lying or a plagiarizer, but only to walk away feeling good about fellow strangers who were not strangers for a few minutes. 

  Over the next 3 days in a row, we bumped into Kathy again. Admittedly, although there are only two main entrances to the park, the timing was incredible. In addition, on one of the days, we met at the second entrance, the much less-used access. 

  Tomorrow, we will meet other interesting people and of course, enjoy/sweat nature’s challenges and its beauty. For that, we feel blessed, fortunate and much of the time, elated.

Cheers, 

Jenni and Jeffrey 

From the slopes of Lizard Peak, we look down upon the desert sands and view a ...lizard.