10/02/2022
I make plans. The universe laughs. I made a decision last week to carve out Tuesdays in my ever so busy calendar as a designated hiking day. It might have something to do with that whole “We could go hiking on Tuesday” thing. I had not narrowed down any specific hikes, but the Superstitions were the front runner. I had no more told my lovely bride that Tuesdays were going to be my designated hiking day (which, by the way, did not disqualify my Sunday after church hike with the better half), when I was asked to work the following Tuesday. I giggled a little and told them I would be happy to pick up any extra tour.
The lost time at work, helped me narrow down where I wanted to hike. Since it was close, I figured I would head up to Spur Cross Ranch and knock out the the trail that goes over Skull Mesa. It had been on my to do list for awhile so I figured the universe was sending me there instead. Much to my surprise, the details of the Jeep tour into the desert were a bit of logistical and time consuming headache. Three hours were lost just to drive time. Once the tour was complete, the Jeeps cleaned and fueled up, I made my way to the trailhead. I had not realized how late in the day I was starting my hike until I called my emergency contact to give her the particulars of where I was going and when I planned to be back.
With half a turkey and cranberry wrap in my pack and having snacked on several handfuls of really awful kettle corn (usually my favorite trail snack but this was so bad I left it in the car), I made my way to the trailhead. After paying my $3.00 entrance fee (money well spent), I headed up the trail to make my way the Skull Mesa trailhead. I gave myself four hours of hiking time, which would in theory get my back to the car at sunset and back to my lovely bride by O’ dark thirty.
The trails were in great shape, even if I wasn’t. I passed several hikers making their way back from their time in the wilderness. I would have to say most everyone was friendly. While not unusual to see water in the desert, there seemed to be more water than anticipated. The trail crossed the water several times. The lack of organized crossing areas seemed to create a bit of chaos for other hikers as they searched for their route of exposed rocks to hop across. If there are a thousand rocks to cross, I will find the two or three that are either unsteady, slippery or too far apart to look graceful and skilled at water crossing. Nevertheless, I managed to stay dry and made my way up the hill.
Sucking air like a Holley four barrel carburetor, I realized that I most likely was not going to make my goal of getting on top of Skull Mesa before sunset. Not wanting to have search and rescue come fish me out of the wilderness, I decided to take trail 4 to see where it went. As I made my way up the trail I at least wanted to see the view from to the top. Once I had summited the no name hill, I admittedly felt a little like the bear, the one that went over the mountain to see what he could see. But like that bear, all I saw was the other side of the mountain. All in all, not really a bad place to spend a Tuesday.
As I sat and ate the turkey and cranberry wrap, I noticed a peculiar petroglyph. It did not appear to be Native rock art but more like someone with the initials JHP had decided to leave his ( I say “his” because generally speaking, women are not that stupid) mark in wilderness. I could write paragraphs about defacing the wilderness. Their backyard is the only wilderness some people need to spend time in, but I digress. As I sat looking at the rock, my mind began to wander a bit, I could not help notice if viewed up side down, JHP sorta looks like the Trix rabbit is riding Mr. Snuffleupagus. I do need to get out more often.
After a long drink of bottled water, I put on my pack and headed back to the car. Overall, it was a pretty good Tuesday. Perhaps it is a good thing when I plan and the universe laughs. Just sayin’...
