What a glorious day for hiking! I got started at 7:30; there was a party who'd camped at the trailhead overnight, standing around in their hooded sweatjackets. I didn't see too many people on the Second Water-Black Mesa leg of the trail, just one other hiker and a jogger running the trail widdershins. About halfway back the Dutchman trail it turned into a virtual rush hour of hikers heading the opposite direction - this would've been about noonish.

More of those tubular orange flowers in the washes, lots of butterflies, and a cardinal. A black crested bird that Birds of Arizona Field Guide calls a phainopepia was rather bold, coming back to pose for photos when I whistled at him. He probably thought my accent was terrible!