Randal Schulhauser graciously offered to guide me on this trip, and I jumped at the opportunity. I got even luckier at the car rental by scoring a high clearance vehicle at no extra charge, which gave me access the other Sierra Ancha hikes he and Preston Sands suggested.

The view from the overlook was inspiring and the bushwhack to the ruins was the least arduous of the week, although we didn't exactly float through the trees like shadows.

After sharing a refreshing selection from his cooler and some plotting and scheming, Randal headed back to real life and I set up camped by the trailhead. In retrospect, it was probably too close to the water, and I was plagued by critters, most notably a bear who kicked a stone off the nearby wall, apparently after unexpectedly catching wind of my tent a few feet away. It returned later and spent some hours digging just as close in the bright moonlight. Some deer passed through as well, but I was too sleepy to pay much attention. After an icy breakfast the next morning, it was time for another hike.