As I am writing this several weeks out from this adventure....memory does make this posting kind. We packed a backpack with food, water and ice water bottles. I had purchased walking stickes to help me out with the climb. My knee has been good all trip with no use of brace. Still I did consider myself not in the best of shape, but certainly willing to do a challenge. A challenge indeed.
We began our hike from the parking lot just after 8 am. We decided that a mile hike to the trail head was ok in view of purchasing tram tickets. Today was to be sunny, slight breeze and in the 90's. This trail does not have a lot of shade on it, but we thought we would be ok. Plenty of water, sunscreen and determined.
I did not have a hard copy of the trail, but took a picture. We started on a fairly easy trail that was to go to phoneline trail. But somehow we did not find it. We walked the tram route to stop 2 which was the trail could be accessed. So far not too bad. We found the trail, over the riverbed and then a climb with several switchbacks. Beautiful views and most of the trai, was in the shade. We ran across a few people that confirmed we were going I the right direction. They said it is a challenging trail. We reached the point where the two split off. Phoneline to the north and Blackett to the northeast. The. The climb began. We lost the shade, and the trail steps of climbing certainly began. Switchbacks were frequent, we encountered several on the way down, and said going up challenges the heart and going down challenges the knees. This is where I began taking more breaks as the climb in altitude was problematic. I lost Dan a few times. We got to a point that I just needed to eat something. Peanut butter just did not do it. We were trying to conserve our water as well. We were told that we were close...not really..took another 1-1.5 hours. Then two false summits. I told myself that if it was not around the corner that was it. I did see Dan waiting, he said it was just one more summit to the end. I just could not go up any more. This was my summit and what I was calling the end for me. We ate a little more and enjoyed the breath taking views. Then the climb down. I thought it would be easy, but going down was not. I was just so tired and hot. It was about 1300 when we started down. This was the worst. How did I ever climb these steps. I could feel my right big toe jamming with each step. Several times I had to stop, use an ice water bottle on my forehead and back of neck and actually lay down in the little shade of the saguaro cactus. We finally got to the juncture of the of the two trails. I just wanted to get to the creek and get all wet. We still have several miles to get to the visitor center. Now our goal was to get there before the sun set. The Phoneline trail down was easy, but I still was warm and tired, but I could go a bit farther before resting. Finally we got to the creek and I took off my shirt and had Dan soak it, out it back on. That was golorious!!!! Still a bit of a walk but we made it back just after 5 pm.
It was a great hike, off my bucket list. But felt the effects for several days. Stubborn as I did not want to quit prior to getting to the top. Dan was concerned that he maitre have to get help or at least get me a Pepsi.
Picutures are on the camera that I will upload some day. Computer at home is on it's last days. I got some off the internet...just to remember. Here they are.
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