|
| | | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 8.58 Miles |
1,314 AEG |
| | Hiking | 8.58 Miles | 2 Hrs 55 Mns | | 2.96 mph |
| 1,314 ft AEG | 1 Min Break | 8 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | After a week at sea level, I needed to break myself back in slowly with a few more miles and gain. After getting some beauty sleep and an 8 am start, the Jewel of the Creek lot was full, but I got a spot with someone pulling out.
As expected, the area around was crowded with families and Instagram folks. Once I got into Spur Cross, I only saw a few groups. Temperatures were nice, and there were many different varieties of flora blooming.
I made the saddle at Elephant Mountain and started down. I had planned on a longer hike today, but with little breeze and it getting warmer, I cut it short. A half hour later, the winds picked up.
Back in the Jewel of the preserve area, I encountered the masses that came out after me. I also encountered my first diamondback of the year. |
|
Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Brittlebush, Scorpionweed, Lupine, Desert Marigold, Dichelostemma capitatum, Indian Paintbrush, Poppies, Desert Chicory,and More |
|
| _____________________
There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Dave Barry  |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
Knee is about 85% to 90%. Only the second time I've been off sidewalk. The first was just a small bump of a hill in December. Wanted to see just how far I could go. First time in my trail runners in over a year. This seemed like an easy choice to get some uneven ground work in. I took it a step further and did a confidence test. Rock hopping Cave Creek. The biggest obstacle to overcome after rehab is the confidence factor. Glad I did it towards the beginning instead of the end or I'd have gotten wet. 
Good to be back out at Spur Cross. I almost didn't do Jewel of the Creek after the bigger loop, but decided to push it. The knee started whimpering just a tad during Jewel, but that's as far as it went. But I could tell when I finally got back to the truck the second time that there was some pretty good fatigue happening. The knee was shaky, but generally not sore. I stopped several times during this hike for about 10 minutes each, just to see if I was going to stiffen up. I was surprised that there was very little of that. I didn't take any Ibuprofen before this hike because I wanted to see what the knee would do without any help or inhibitions. Overall, I was pleased. With that said, I can say I don't have any trail legs right now. My feet, ankles and shins were spasming last night into this morning. But the knee is fine. 
I hope I'm still able to do that in fifteen years.
.
