A Busy Weekend

It was a great President's Weekend - very busy but fun. Check out the photos here or in the slide show below.

I was up early on Saturday to head out for a hike in Tucson. We were meeting at Fry's at 7:30am. An old high school buddy, Dana, came into town to hike with me and was also meeting me there. I hadn't seen Dana in 25 years or so. We chatted the whole way to Tucson catching up on each other's lives.

The hike was in the Saguaro National Park. It began at the Hugh Norris Trailhead. it went up, up, up and then followed a ridgeline until an easy climb to Wasson Peak. We then returned along a slightly different route that headed down and then back up to the ridgeline. It was a really good workout and a good crew of folks some of whom I had hiked with on Thursday.

Hugh Norris to Wasson Peak

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We headed back to Mesa where we went out to dinner at an awesome Indian place. It was a really great meal. Dana, Chris (her husband), Ali (her daughter), Erica, PJ, JJ, Huichi and I all went. Dad did everything he could to get out of eating Indian.

The next morning we were up even earlier to head out to the Lost Dutchman Marathon - Huichi to run the 1/2 marathon, me to walk the 10K, and the Melies clan (all of them) to walk the 2mile Fun Walk/Run. It was sooo cold in the morning. Poor little Austin was very uncomfortable and was carried most of the way by PJ. Then got a bit hassled by the runners at the finish because he wasn't crossing fast enough. The Melies finished first and headed out quickly due to the cold and the children's short tempers. Funnily enough they happened to be leaving right when I was crossing the road they drove out so I had a little cheering section. I crossed next and got some film of Huichi running at the very end. (This video can be seen on Facebook)

Dana was supposed to run as well but woke up and wasn't feeling that great. I caught up with her and her family at REI on her way out of town. I hope that we can keep in touch and do a few more things together this year.

Later that night we had a huge family dinner followed by a photos of all the Lost Dutchman participants.

Monday morning I took Brody out to Butcher Jones to hike around Saguaro lake. Unfortunately, I screwed up the Tonto Pass and had to go past the turnoff and on to a gas station near Ft McDowell Casino to purchase it. It was an incredibly pretty hike as was the scenery on the way there and back. Right now it is so green. The rock is red and the water and sky are blue. I would really like to hike more in that area. Brody enjoyed the hike but found the uphill sections very challenging. We only did half the hike (3 miles) but we both enjoyed it.

Butcher jones

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Ballantine Trail / Pine Creek Loop Hike

My Photos here and other hike photos here.

Today started out as overcast and cool but the clouds cleared and it warmed into a beautiful day. In the distance Four Peaks and Mt Ord were covered by snow and quite beautiful. Our recent rain filled the creeks and the desert was very, very green. We saw a few small wildflowers. I am excited for the full on wildflower season. They said that last year the entire hill sides were yellow with wild flowers.

The hike was ten miles with a 1900ft elevation gain. We encountered some small patches of snow but nothing like what Huichi and I encountered on Sunday.

At one point we had to cross a creek. One of the hikers hide in the bushes and another let him know when someone else in the group was coming so he could get some candid water crossings. I think they were hoping that someone would fall in but everyone was more sure footed than that.

I did okay there as well but later when walking up the side of this steep hill I lost my footing and somehow plunged my arm into a bush of cat claw. There was blood but not much. I was able to stop it with pressure which was great because I didn't want to get my first aid kit out of my backpack.

Another funny thing was this sign giving directions. It was laying on the ground. Go figure - you could pick it up and point it in any direction. Since I was with people who had hiked the trail before I wasn't worried and this is exactly why I hike with the group because the trails and the markings in AZ can often be very vague.

I chose to wear pants because it was cool. I don't understand why they can't make hiking pants that fit properly. They are like the ultra hip huggers. They must be made for people who have enormous waists. I must not be the only one because there was a guy there hiking in short, shorts - these tiny, thin nylon running shorts. I should have got a picture of him.

Ballantine

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Visting Vegas

On my way back from Park City I stopped into Vegas to visit JJ and Huichi. Huichi and I had planned to do a few hikes but the weather conspired against us. It poured rain all day Saturday. We decided to go see a movie but when we got there (right on time vs early) the only seats together were in the front row. Instead we went to REI, cooked dinner and watched a few movies on their nice TV (50 inches). It was almost like being at the movies.

Sunday the weather was better so we decided to try to go hiking. Our first stop was Red Spring which has brillant red rocks. It was warm and pleasant.

Our second stop was the Willow Spring - White Rock loop (six miles). The trail started out fine. As we progressed we moved above the snow line. I was okay in my Keens but Huichi was in trail runners and got wet feet. I offered to turn back numerous times due to slippery, wet conditions but Huichi wanted to continue. It was a really beautiful hike. However, by the time we got to Willow Springs we were both pretty cold. There was no question of stopping for lunch. Huichi couldn't even feel her fingers. However, the next section of the walk was nice and we warmed up by the time we got to the end. We then hiked up to Keystone Thrust adding another two miles to the hike.

White rock

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From there we drove down to Icebox Canyon. It was late and the weather appeared to be worsening so we only hiked a short time but saw a pretty good waterfall and then headed home.

A fun trip - I want to come back and hike in Valley of Fire with Huichi.

You can see my full size photos here or in the slideshow below.

Blue Sky Winter Days in Park City

I spent a lovely week in Park City with Wendy. Wendy introduced me to cross country skiing which was great - once I got the skis on. It took us ten minutes or so to make this happen. In the end I was standing in the snow in my socks examining the boot and ski trying to figure out how they work. (They were Bob's skis so perhaps it would have been sensible for me to ask him how to put them on before borrowing but why be sensible?) Turns out we didn't realise that there was this little clip that needed to be attended to prior to putting the skis on. After we got over this hurdle taking the skis on and off was much easier.

I especially like when you can slide through powder. I was lucky to get eight days of warm (ish) blue sky days while there and went cc skiing most days. It was like hiking in the snow but with a few more falls. Oh yes, I fell once or twice each day and hurt nothing except my pride. One of the funnier falls was when while skiing along my ski went under a branch at ground level stopping my skis but not my body as I tumbled head over heels forward.

We also went hiking in the snow. It was beautiful as well. Wendy went in her trail runners using yaktrax. It was the first time that I had seen them. They are stretchy metal things that attach to the bottom of shoes to provide traction. They are different from crampons in that they are not spiky but rather coiled metal bands.

I went to an old friend's house to watch the Super Bowl. It was perhaps the first Super Bowl that I actually watched. It was either because the AZ Cardinals were in it or more likely that Rich (my old friend) had a 127in TV. You really couldn't ignore it.

I caught up with Rich and another old friend a couple nights before I left. We went out to eat. It was a great time - lots of laughs except when we fed a five year old child some Indian food. Danger, danger Will Robinson - Nothing stopped her crying until the really nice waiter went out to his car and got her a piece of gum.

On the not so good side, Sage - Wendy's dog - had quite an ordeal while I was there. Sage was attacked and bitten by a dog. Within 24 hours she was so sick she had to be carried to the vet. Even after seeing the vet and being treated for antibiotics poor Sage didn't turn the corner until after midnight that night. We were all so worried but she is a strong dog and pulled through. Unfortunately, we were unable to track down the offender so it and its owner got off scott free while poor Sage continues bleeding and pusing all over the place as her wound drains. Luckily, her owner, Wendy, is a nurse who cleans and drains her wound daily.

You can see my full size photos here or check out the slide show below.