Mike Fels and I set off from Central Arizona College in the rain. Drove up to the trailhead. I was not expecting rain, so borrowed my wife's jeans jacket. We crossed a couple of washes to the base of Indian Head Mountain, the day's first objective.

Much like my trips to buffets, my ambition outweighs my ability. While I realized I very well may not do the whole distance I had planned, I did not think the day's first segment would do me in. Indian Head Mountain is vertical on its west face, but I figured I could handle what, on the map (famous last words!), appeared to be a gentler slope on its east face. Instead, the slope was around 40%. Zapped my quads. I was using my hands to lift my legs over rocks. It was steep enough, and my legs shaky enough, that I did not have a great deal of confidence in staying upright if I peed downhill, so I sat down, turned around, unzipped and peed from a sitting position. If I'd had poles, I could have made it. Mike offered me his, but I did not feel right about borrowing, plus I needed to punish myself for not being foresightful. Pain makes you realize the need for behavior modification more than someone propping you up. (After experiencing how much help a walking stick was on the Ballantine Trail, I've thought about getting one ... two? ... but have not got around to it.)

Still, great view from the almost summit. Snow down to 4000 feet all along Zapata Mountain-Holy Joe Peak-Table Mountain, to the east. The latter being 6000+ feet. (I heard there was also snow in Oracle, which makes sense as it is about 4200 feet.)