The day started with a sit-down hot breakfast in our hotel. We called an Uber and fifteen minutes later we were headed for Hope Creek Trailhead 27 miles away. The last mile or two was on a dirt road. Our driver was cool about the whole drive even when his Uber app lead us astray, and Terry directed him with his iPhone Maps.
We hiked down 2.5 miles to reach the official AZT. We had another 8 miles before we’d arrive at our campground named Grass Shack. We had reserved a spot here on Recreation.gov last night. We were heading into Saguaro National Park, and you can only camp in one of their camps.
It was a hot 93 degrees. I was dragging my feet and the rest of me. We entered the park and the magnificent saguaros appeared everywhere. We identified the song of the Gila Woodpecker, the Cristal Thrasher and the White-Winged Dove, new birds for us.
And then the climbing began. With the added heat, it was torturous. Whine, whine. Shade was very occasional. Terry met a couple of hikers at the hotel. He was sure they were older than us. We found them tucked into the supreme shady spot of this area. They were very gracious and offered the spot to us, but we declined. I was pissed we had, when they passed us later skipping along up the incline.
We were well above the saguaro before a few trees started to dot the landscape. I felt I couldn’t take another step. At our last trip to the grocery store last night, I found my favorite pick-me-up, 4 oz cans of double shot espresso. I made room for two of them in my pack. Terry said it was time to use one. After downing one, I, too, skipped up the trail the last three miles. When we got to the camp the other couple and a single man were set up and visiting.
We found a great site out of view of the others. We’re on a babbling stream. Despite the babbling we heard a desperate cry of what we believed to be a baby bird waiting for parents to return. The app identified it as a Cooper’s Hawk. Next we heard low chat, chat, chat, chat persisting. This was a Yellow-breasted Chat. Both the calls to this chat and an Elf Owl lingered into our dreams.
Cristal thrasher, gila woodpecker, yellow-breasted chat, Coopers Hawk, white winged dove elf owl
Mountain Peace 