Upper Pasture Trail #38 - Giant Alligator Juniper Trail

Giant Alligator Juniper Trail 

2/29/20 
4.7 mile 

This hike can be done as a spiritual act to celebrate the sacrifice of firefighters.  It is basically a gentle path to a Large Alligator Juniper. The large alligator juniper is a beautiful sight. I did feel a bit sad looking at it.  As I understand it 20 fire fighters saved the alligator tree's life in what was called the doce fire of 2013 . Then, unfortunately, a few days later, 18 of the same fire crew died in another fire. The tree now stands as symbolism for life, for what the fire crew were able to do before their lives were lost. This grandfather tree now stands alive and well covered in pens from fire departments and red bananas draped around the tree. 

Around the shrine there are others trees not so lucky, they are black and chard , they stand present in the area like ghosts, gentle reminders of impermanence.  

For us,  we began the hike by parking at Contreras trail parking lot then walking the main road to
trail-head #38.  The road to the trail-head was a bit too rugged for Chad's Prius. #wimpycarthatisgreatonfuel

The transition from Contreras trail parking lot  #38 was an up hill trek on a dirt road with beautiful views of Granite Mountain. I think this hike might be challenging in moist weather due to sticky mud building up on your shoes as on this date we could see where trucks of a rainy time left deep indents in the road. 

There was no evidence of trucks on #38 just on the road up to the trail. I enjoyed walking on the road but if you were with someone with a different fitness level taking a high clearance car to the trail head would defiantly cut out the difficulty.  

Once at the trail-head the hills were spotted with pines and juniper. There was just enough wind that the trees danced a bit back and forth. Mingus stopped to look at a dancing tree a few times not sure if it was the wind or alive. He looked at me, then at the tree, and cocked his head, and I followed suit, looking at Chad, then back at the tree. Chad our logical one said, "Yep that's a tree in the wind."

Maybe it was a local wind ghost? oooo eeee ooooo.... wind ghosts and firefighters seem to be contrasting types, wind fuels fire, firefighters put it out... 

In addition to the wind, there was a flock of blue birds, that seemed to be traveling with us moving from tree to tree. I did some research post hike and there is a man in Oregon named Hubert Prescott who created the Prescott Bluebird Recovery Project. He is in no way related to my new home in Prescott Az but his friend the Western Blue Bird was seen with a pack of its relatives,  juniper to jumper on #38. 

#38 had areas with evidence of erosion places you could see naked roots, loose soil, and cracks in the earth. Chad (a forest service hydrologist) told us the forest service crew plans to make repairs.  I wonder now if they are done?

A fun little fact is that this trail leads to places were cows frequent, evidence via cow-pies and even a salt lick.  I think it would be fun to share the trail with some cows but Mingus would probably think he was on job and heard them off. 

There was what Chad called a "tank" or small body of water created for cows. Mingus and Moly got in to goof off and It was amusing watching them navigate the water which clearly had a sticky bottom. 

We then walked next to blooming manzanita's February seems a bit early, I guess they were trying to get a jump on spring. Manzanita is one of my favorite plants. I love the dark red bark and its wavy lines contrasted with the green leaves. 

There was also a small stream next to the trail. Mingus and Moly enjoyed drinking and playing in the water and there was no worry for any one to run out of water to drink. 

The hike back to the car was just as nice the days weather was perfect. There was even a large raven that let me stand pretty close to him and take a photo. I realize now writing this here that there were so many existential symbols on this day. 

A phrase I love and think of often is from Mary Oliver in her poem A Summer Day "Tell me what will you do with your one wild and precious life?" For me, exploring the natural world is a good start. 

Willow Lake Loop Trail

Willow Lake Loop Trail
2/15/2020 

Our hike was just under 7 miles. 
The internet says this loop is 5.7. 

Its mid February in Prescott, Arizona and the weather can be defined as perfect. Something like 67 degrees with the sun out. Winter is leaving but not quite gone. The hike we chose on February 15th, 2020 was very close to Chad's home. His home that I moved into on February 7th. Yes very close to Valentines Day it's so romantic, and yea I know it was a bit nuts. Just ten months of dating and moving in, but I was sick of driving back and forth and we had dated a year or so twenty some years before. So here we are housemates. 

If you decide to hike this loop there are a few options of places to start, a dog park, a boat ramp, a pull off from Willow Lake road. We began by crossing a swampy field, walking along a rocky hillside to a big beautiful cottonwood with a bench under it. This tree stands close to the first sign that reads "follow the dots".  The trial is marked by spray painted white dots on the rocks to follow. 

I bowed to the tree in its winter nakedness in exchange for a long look at her boughs and off we looped. In the water we saw ducks, Canadian geese, great blue herring, and those water birds that look like black footballs with white beaks (coots) quacking, cooting and splashing about. Also while on the hike there was in informative sign that pointed out there are two kinds of cormorants present. One could be distinguished from the other by having more yellow on its beak. 

The landscape in this area is called "The Dells" which comes from the french word "dalles" meaning layers of rock . And true to the name Willow lake is surrounded by large granite boulders. The first three miles involves many scrambles over rocks. Which is fun and challenging .There are times a hiker feels small and humble as you slip through crevasses, huge rocks on either side of you. Other times the landscape feels foreign and quiet like the moon. We stopped and rested in a place where the only other movement we saw was a Steller's Jay dressed in his classic black and blue fathers and contrasted nicely to a field of yellow grass that had grown in shallow soil. It was a place where I felt as if we were the only people in the world cradled in rocks. 

At one point we descended down a long flight of wooden stairs to a stretch I was particularly fond of because there were large cottonwood trees and the ground was soft and muddy.  Present were two kinds of moss one that was a bright green and another lighter more earthy moss dressed in dew. Whenever I see moss I wish I was really small so I could stretch out on it and rest on it.  

                                                                                                          🙆

About mile 4 we came out of the boulders to a more urban area, there was a parking lot where the less mobile seeker of nature, or people just interested in a rest can picnic by Willow Lake can begin there journey, no need to scramble and you could take a wheel chair here. Also it is very beautiful, cottonwood trees line the edge of the water creating shade and a place to land a lawn chair. Having moved from the land of very little water, the lake is memorizing, the way it reflects the sky above, the hills in the distance, houses, the ducks, and the flocks of cormorants, it nearly took my breath away.

Dogs in trouble with Chad post fight 

At one point we found a spot to rest under the large cottonwoods and the dogs got into a scuffle which unsettled us both. They sound so terrifying when they fight. They are still adjusting  to being housemates and have a love-hate relationship with one another.  I have been told the older female is meant to be the boss, and Moly has been working hard at letting everyone know this is a fact. Fortunately the fight did not last long and no one was injured (except perhaps my nervous system). 

Me with trail mix 

At about mile six I stop to eat trail-mix. Its so delicious we call it "crack" even if full, a person wants to shove handfuls into their face and in that moment I was hungry. I felt like Golum from the Lord of the Rings "my precious" peanuts, M&M, raisins, and other nuts. In front of me I watched Ming and Moly frolick together in the water like best friends, their scuffle forgotten as I scowled at Chad for taking my photo. 

When I got back to the house I went strait to take a nap. A long hike can wear a person out. I drifted off to sleep with visions of boulders and water decorated by ducks in my head. 

Tortolita Mountain Trails

On January 18th, 2020. 
Site: Tortolita Mountains 

Travelers- Humans: Myself and Chad. 
                  Dogs: Mingus-German Shepherd raised by me 
                  Molybdenum aka Moly (Labrador) raised by Chad 

Chad the other human and I dated when we were 22 years old for a year or two. We were adorable so young and fit and full of ourselves.  On the date of this hike we had been back together for about 9 months. We are now in our 40's and thank goodness no longer idealistic youth (well at least no longer youth). 

Even though we have a preference for our own pups  we had begun to call the dogs "our dogs". 

On this date I lived in Tucson, Arizona and Chad lived in Prescott, AZ. For dating we were driving back and forth and exploring the local landscapes together. I enjoyed sharing  my love for the desert with him and he seemed to be more chill in the winter (literally and figuratively).

So on a beautiful day in January we packed up "our dogs" and headed out to hike some trails in The Tortolia Mountain range. This range was once the home of the Hohokam native people and though we did not see them on this date there are some historic sites here.

What I do know is that there has been some historical conflict between environmentalists and  developers for this land. Thank goodness to good humans the area we hiked on this date is protected land.

The hike we completed was about six miles with 1,250 feet of elevation change. The plants around us were the  Sonoran desert regulars: cholla, ocotillo, mesquite, yucca, and agave. The trail began with a short trek in a dry wash surrounded by mesquite tress.

A wash is a sandy place to walk, so when there are no monsoon rains it is just an empty river bed. During this part of the hike we had to stop occasionally to kick rock hitchhikers out of our shoes. I have sense bought some dirty girl gaiters. https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/ (not a paid ad I just love them) which help with rocks who want to ride in shoes. 

 In the wash under a twisted mesquite  tree that was offering shade we met a nice young couple and we chatted with them about dogs and hiking. Oh how I miss the days of standing close to strangers, this was of course before Covid. Meanwhile while we were chatting up some strangers Molly was  enjoying a smelling exploration and got herself the spine from a cholla stuck right into her paw. The spine of the cholla is a round little part from the cactus that is covered in spikes. A person can not remove a cholla spine with their hand or their hand will also be full of spikes. The Cholla have a strong will to live.

Chad and I sprung to action. He held Molly so she did not try to remove it with her little dog mouth, while I pulled out a comb from my pack (a desert first aid basic) and I used it to quickly flick the cactus off her paw. Chad seemed like he had to fight the urge to grab that cactus and save his pup from pain, but as a team we got it done and continued our hike as a team.

Cholla (only photo not  from the day of the hike) 

Cholla are called jumping cactus for a reason. Their spines spring from the main cactus all about the ground to start a new family. Occasionally hitching a ride on a passer by. 

The trail we picked climbed quickly. Physically it is a bit like climbing flights of stairs but visually it was much more complex. One could see large rocks, cactus covering the mountains, and the sandy wash below. In the distance I could see a man-made pond and a golf course. A reminder of what things would look like without the battle for the land. I notice the pond and golf course were so stiff and ridged in contrast to the natural landscape, not odd and crooked like the cholla, or mesquite. Even the tall saguaro has its imperfections.

After the initial climb Chad and I took a break at a bench provided for hikers (well I stopped for a break and he surrendered to a moment of rest). I enjoyed a sandwich I had packed and apple as I stared at a tall rock face, with angled lines and saguaros at its base.

After the rest at the bench the real beauty began. Purple cholla began to cover the landscape with orange and yellow fruits. They stood present like sunsets. Then the mountains began to rise as the trail dipped down between them.

The light on this day and the season was brilliant, vibrant blue, bright yellow, and orange next to purple branches. The day was photo filter for vibrancy  but in real time.

There were some plants there that I did not know, they looked like an agave but were shorter with fat green leaves and yellow edges.

We hiked the Wild Burro trail and took the spur shortcut so we could return to the car. We had hoped to go to Alamo springs but wished we had packed more water for a longer day of exploring. There was not water for the dogs or us except what was on our backs.

When we got to the parking area we landed on a picnic bench  with a pergola up above us and enjoyed eating some lifesaver candies. I love the citrus lifesavers best and I noticed how the hues of the candies are just like the desert and these kinds of spaces save my life daily. What a treat.  

 

Romero Pools with Krissy January 4th, 2020

Krissy and myself, left to right 

My friend Krissy is a Minnesota mamma. But when I first met her we were both living in the Pacific North West. The first time we talked we were new students at Portland State University and together we attended the new grad school student picnic. The picnic was held at a park filled with so many shades of green and a pond. The park is called Laurelhurst Park in Portland Oregon. Oregon is not a place you need to hunt for water it often comes for you. Our first bonding moment was the shared need for book shelves. Years later we are  no longer students, we have all we need, including the book shelves and our friendship. 

  

As it was Krissy's first trip to Arizona I wanted to share something special with her. So the hike we went on was, Romero Pools in
 Catalina State Park. 

Saguaro 

At the beginning of the hike the seasonal Sutherland Wash was flowing so we took off our socks and shoes, and waded across the wash we needed to do this so we could climb the rocks and hills to visit the pools above. Before we crossed the wash it was interesting to watch friends and lovers navigate the crossing, everyone seemed to have a better idea than their companions on how to cross to the other side.
One man crossed with garbage sacks on his feet, one man ignored a stick that was offered from his companion and  promptly fell into the water.  Though I very much doubt that man enjoyed the water I sure did. The icy water on my feet was refreshing and Krissy exclaimed her feet felt "alive".  That was a good way to describe the impact of the icy water at this crossing and later at the pools. 

Catalina State Part is a place I love. For me, it is the presence of the Catalina Mountains. They are so present. Different than other mountains I have known. They are tall, rocky, sparsely covered in plants, dispersed like decorations, an ocotillo here, a yucca there, saguaros regal witnesses waving down from above. 

The trail begins sandy then becomes rocks, rocks that sparkle with quarts. As you climb in elevation the plants change. Not always a different plant but the seasonal state they are in changes. The ocotillo at the beginning were ready for winter free of leaves. Where high up the Ocotillos were green with bright leaves like spring. New plants also arrive, bursage with its bright aroma and at the pools themselves an oak stand close by. The water also changes and Krissy points out the rusty color of iron in the hue. 

Oak and friends 

Bursage 

At the Romero pools I took time to sit on a large grey rock that was smooth from a history of fluidity and as I sat in that spot water occasionally sprinkling kisses on my feet, I closed my eyes and listened to the water flow, and found my own fluidity, feeling softer, more still inside, I moved closer to my friend and everything else around me as well.  

Krissy on a rock 

After our rest at the pools we trecked back down the mountain. As we hiked, we talked about cooking and podcasts we love and we also walked in silence. We would at times say hello to other hikers. Occasionally I would just nod. I enjoy being in the communion with the natural world. One of the things I have always loved about hiking is that I become embodied. No longer a head full of ideas, thoughts and worries but a whole being, decorated with breath and sore muscles and flushed cheeks, a whole being  whose body is - Home.