For several days Andy talked about a hike. I guessed today was the day: overcast, cool, breezy, jacket weather. The fringe of the storm that dumped three inches of rain on Death Valley brushed Tucson.
Up, up, up we climbed over rough trail: King Canyon to Mam-A-gah (.9 miles), Mam-A-Gah to Sweetwater (1.4), Hugh Norris to Wasson (.9), Wasson to Wasson Cut-off (.6), the Cut-off to Hugh Norris to Sandero Esperanza (1.9), Sandero Esperanza to Gould (1.0), Gould Mine return to the parking lot (1.1).
Several stops in Tucson Mountain County Park offered beautiful views but less than spectacular photo opportunities with heavy grey clouds, grey-green foliage and grey-brown earth. "These pullouts are beautiful on a sunny day," said Andy, "but in the summer when we were here years ago, temperatures were sweltering."
Andy parked Little Red on Kinney Road. "We'll see how we do on some of this trail," he said. Translated that meant, "We'll see if Sue is willing to hike or be nervous about edges and complain the whole time."
"This is not going to be easy, but we don't have to do all of it," he said, already scaling the side of King Canyon from the parking lot at 2,500 feet.
Andy parked Little Red on Kinney Road. "We'll see how we do on some of this trail," he said. Translated that meant, "We'll see if Sue is willing to hike or be nervous about edges and complain the whole time.""This is not going to be easy, but we don't have to do all of it," he said, already scaling the side of King Canyon from the parking lot at 2,500 feet.
The next three miles climbed switch-back style through a wash and over steep gravel hillsides of saguaros and prickly pears. I had a conversation with myself:
"Okay, Sue, breathe in, step, step, breathe out. You can do it."
"But why would you really want to? You'll have a heart attack."
"He loves to hike. You need to keep up."
"You could stop at the intersection and let Andy go up to the top by himself."
"Are you crazy? If you make it to the Wasson Cut-off, you can scale the peak as well."
Up, up, up we climbed over rough trail: King Canyon to Mam-A-gah (.9 miles), Mam-A-Gah to Sweetwater (1.4), Hugh Norris to Wasson (.9), Wasson to Wasson Cut-off (.6), the Cut-off to Hugh Norris to Sandero Esperanza (1.9), Sandero Esperanza to Gould (1.0), Gould Mine return to the parking lot (1.1).
I hummed to myself as I walked.
Winterhaven Festival of Lights inspired Christmas spirit in the desert. The modest neighborhood decorates elaborately. With darkness around 6:00 p.m. and the help of a road map, we found the area bounded by Tucson Boulevard and Country Club, Prince and Ft. Lowell. By 7:30 p.m. Andy and I had walked 30 blocks, ooohing and aaahing the entire way at the brightness and beauty and cleverness and spirit. Seven wagons loaded with wide-eyed guests and pulled by teams of horses and mules jingled down the streets. A trolley car decorated in red and green lights gave sight-seeing tours.
Everywhere, parents pulled little children in wagons and strolling adults walked dogs. Competition was fierce for prized titles like Creativity Award, Most Artistic Award, Best Use of Lights Award. I even saw the Most Santa Clauses Award. One house showed Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation on the front lawn with chairs set up for viewers. Another had Bellagio-style fountains shooting water and flashing lights in sync with Christmas melodies. Still others collected toys and food for the hungry or sold popcorn, but everywhere courteous people enjoyed the spirit of good will. In spite of the desert warmth, the cactus and the palm trees, it's Christmas here, and thousands of kind and excited people know how to celebrate it.
Over the river and through the woods...
No Sue, you are in the desert.
Over the dry wash and through the...
I couldn't think of a one-syllable word to fit.
Over the desert and through the wash
To the top of Mount Wasson we go...
The words created a pace and helped me focus.
My feet trek the way to carry...
The first three miles climbed more than 2,000 feet to the summit of Wasson Peak at 4,687 feet. The descending loop was longer but not as steep. "That was the most strenuous trail we have hiked in many years," praised Andy. "We did 7.8 difficult miles."
I might have used the word brutal.Winterhaven Festival of Lights inspired Christmas spirit in the desert. The modest neighborhood decorates elaborately. With darkness around 6:00 p.m. and the help of a road map, we found the area bounded by Tucson Boulevard and Country Club, Prince and Ft. Lowell. By 7:30 p.m. Andy and I had walked 30 blocks, ooohing and aaahing the entire way at the brightness and beauty and cleverness and spirit. Seven wagons loaded with wide-eyed guests and pulled by teams of horses and mules jingled down the streets. A trolley car decorated in red and green lights gave sight-seeing tours.
Everywhere, parents pulled little children in wagons and strolling adults walked dogs. Competition was fierce for prized titles like Creativity Award, Most Artistic Award, Best Use of Lights Award. I even saw the Most Santa Clauses Award. One house showed Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation on the front lawn with chairs set up for viewers. Another had Bellagio-style fountains shooting water and flashing lights in sync with Christmas melodies. Still others collected toys and food for the hungry or sold popcorn, but everywhere courteous people enjoyed the spirit of good will. In spite of the desert warmth, the cactus and the palm trees, it's Christmas here, and thousands of kind and excited people know how to celebrate it.
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