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| Hiking | 8.46 Miles |
2,703 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.46 Miles | 8 Hrs 24 Mns | | 1.66 mph |
| 2,703 ft AEG | 3 Hrs 19 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | The goal for the day was Lime & Sunset, with the more important goal being surviving the heat. Bruce, Johnlp, John10s, and I got started around 0700. We walked the road for a while, with a short side trip to look at a ruin and some glyphs. Temps were around 40 to start, but I commenced the whining early, there was no breeze, and no clouds.
After leaving the road, we headed north, dodging cactus and catclaw, while trying to keep our footing while side hilling on ball bearings. There were some deep channels to jump across, and two thick sections of thorny vegetation to get through. A lot of branches were dry enough to step on and break, while 10s was able to clip back the worst of it.
After the vegetation, we turned generally west and headed uphill. Steep uphill, but eventually the footing got slightly better. But it got hotter. We slowly made our way up the ridge towards Lime Peak, again dodging vegetation and loose rock. Up and up. I ripped my shirt on something. Once finally on the spine leading over to the summit, it got a little easier.
As I reached Lime, I decided there was no way I was going over to summit Sunset. Heat, sunshine, and no breeze all conspired against me, and I would have been extremely slow for the three miles there and back. I told the guys I would wait on Lime while they headed over to Sunset. Bruce opted to wait on Sunset as well. 10s revealed he had been carrying about three weeks worth of gear and water (but no sandwich) in his pack. He left about a week’s worth of supplies with me and Bruce, and decided two week’s worth was sufficient for the three mile journey to Sunset.
We all headed down to the frustum took some pics, then the John duo headed over to Sunset while Bruce and I hung out on Lime. We quickly lost sight of them. Initially, we sorted through the goods left behind and placed dibs on who would get what. I folded some laundry. Then we watched some birds, then we speculated on how long it would take them to get back. Eventually, we got tired of each others voices and resorted to sending each other InReach messages.
Once we could finally spot two tiny specks of movement coming down Sunset, Bruce and I started to slowly descend off Lime, knowing they would catch up to us eventually. We startled a bat out from under a rock, but I didn’t scream this time. We regrouped shortly before the bottom of the ridge, made our way through the thick brush, and side hilled our way back south.
It was so hot. I considered walking down to the lake and seeing what I could flash for a boat ride back to anywhere. No breeze, no clouds, and I had lost my sunblock somewhere along the way, although Bruce generously shared with me. Even the road walk out felt hot, although was easier.
After we finished, Bruce wanted to see Arizona’s most amazing waterfall, so we headed over to the dam to join fifty other people in staring at some flowing water. I poured water all over myself and felt slightly more human, it was refreshingly cold. Fun, but tiring day, with great company and conversation! |
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| Stop crying and just go do the hike. |
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