Page 13 - 2003 DT 12 Issues

Melissa and view gorgeous formations. ○ nications, GPS and clinometer were all ○ at all costs. Never mind those people slid-
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Stren+, 10 mi. (*) ○ in working order. The radio crackled with ○ ing downhill who are saying things like,
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Sun. 9, “Fossils Above and Below— ○ current weather conditions, and it became ○ “It’s worse coming down than goin’ up.”
They’re Everywhere”! - Jack will climb 450 ft ○ ○ apparent that the climb was a “go.” There ○ ○ Never mind those euro-tourists who whiz
up rocky Fossil Canyon to the James Hardie ○ ○ could be no turning back now. But was I ○ around you like you were standing still.
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Mine, then loop back again toward fossil Ridge ○ ready, mentally? I had been training sev- ○ You are focused! Speaking of standing
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and Cowboy Trails. Mod., 5 mi. (+) ○ eral months for this .... Yes, I was ready. ○ ○ still, this climb is a terrific aerobic work-
Sun. 9, “Ten to the Top #5” - We call them ○ ○ Mt. Everest? K2? Half Dome? No, worse ○ ○ out equal to several trips to the gym;
the Spring Mountains because of all the springs! ○ ○
○ … this was Turtlehead Peak! ○ therefore you need to monitor the ol’ heart
Water ecology will be our focus on this trip, ○ ○
○ I locked up my old truck in the Sand- ○ rate as you ascend. Be sure to rest often
which is the halfway point in our series. Mod. ○
○ stone Quarry parking lot, mingled with ○ and of course, drink plenty of water along
1.5 mi. (*) ○
○ the crowd for a few minutes, and then ○ the way.
Sat. 15, “Calico Tank” - Join Vera Vann ○ ○
and see how much water, if any, is in the tank ○ ○ without any deserved fanfare, struck out ○ Once you crest the ridgeline, feel free
○ for the mountain. The trail to the peak ○ to do a little victory dance and then take
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at the top. Mod., 4 mi. (+)
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○ starts out deceptively well marked with a long break to catch your breath. The
Sun. 16, “Ten to the Top # 6” - Signs of ○
spring! Not only are we changing, but so is the ○ cute little square signs that peak is still
desert. We will look closely for the subtle signs ○ ○ cheerfully say, “Turtle- high above and
of the coming season. Mod-Stren., 2 mi. (*) ○ ○ head Peak 2.5 miles, have those voices in
Thurs. 20, “Willow Caves” - Discover sev- ○ a nice day.” My inner Sam your head are
eral beautiful erosion caves just past Willow ○ ○ Kinnison is screaming, saying things
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Springs site rock scrambling. Mod-Stren. ○ “Yea, two and a half like “What was
3 mi.(*) ○ miles, STRAIGHT UP!! I thinking” and
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Sat. 22, “Beauty of the Plants” - Joshua ○ AAGH, AAAAAGH.” “I’m not sure I
trees, blackbrush, prickly pear . . . what a vast ○ ○ But, once you commit can make it.”
variety we have at Red Rock! Join Melissa for ○ yourself to a challenge © J. L. Boone But, you’ve
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a day of plant discovery. Grand Circle. ○ like this, you must focus only on the goal ○ come this far, so with sore and wobbling
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Stren., 11mi. (*) ○ and ignore those little voices of reason. ○ ○ legs, you start off again in the general di-
Sun. 23, “Walk with the Rock Climbers” A stop at the old Sandstone Quarry (you ○ ○ rection of UP! Now, normally I despise
- From Oak Creek, we venture to Juniper can- ○ can be pretty sure that Fred Flintstone ○ cairns, those little piles of symmetrically
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yon, a favorite haunt of climbers, then to Pine ○ worked here) to stretch your legs is a great ○ stacked rocks (SSR’s) that we gleefully
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Creek . . . plus some hairy rock climbing yarns ○ idea. From here the path continues north ○ ○ knock down everywhere, but here at the
from Jack. Mod., 6 mi. (+) ○ ○ through the rocky Brownstone wash, then ○ ○ ridgeline they are welcome indeed for
Sun. 23, “Ten to the Top #7” - This hike ○ up along a little ridge and right over the ○ some helpful guidance through a moun-
will be a full body workout as we “tread lightly” ○ ○ top of an ancient agave roasting pit. The ○
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discussing the importance of “leaving no trace.” ○ tainous outcropping of boulders. The
○ imposing Turtlehead Peak looms over- ○ remaining climb up the north side of
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Mod-Stren, 2 mi. (*) ○ head, however, a massive vertical ravine
Sun. 23, “ Turtlehead in Winter” - Vera is ○ ○ ○ Turtlehead Peak is much nicer than hik-
○ now lies between you and the mountain. ing in the ravine. The path is soft and
challenging you to climb the toughest one ○ You stop seeing those cute little trail ○ ○
around. Stren., 5 mi. (+) ○ ○ welcoming all the way to its rocky
○ signs about halfway to the ravine, but it ○ summit.
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really doesn’t matter, because there is ○ As the 6,323-ft. limestone peak sur-
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○ ○ only one way you can go from here and ○ ○ renders to your tired and determined legs,
BOOT TRACKS ○ ○ that’s UP! The ravine is an obstacle ○ ○ the great panorama comes into view and
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○ course of boulders, loose gravel, falling ○
by Tom Pfaendler ○ victory is finally yours! The feeling of
○ people and braided trails, but you are fo- ○ accomplishment can be overwhelming.
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t was an early winter morning. Icy ○ ○ cused on goal number one . . . the ○ It’s not unusual for people to do a Rocky-
grey light filtered through low clouds ○ ○ ridgeline at the top of the ravine. It’s the ○ ○ style dance at the summit, so go ahead,
Iilluminating the massive rock face in ○ obvious gateway to the peak, but it’s very ○ ○
threatening detail. I had arrived with the ○ ○ effectively guarded by the obstacle ○
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proper hardware for the ascent. Commu- course. You need to reach the ridgeline Boot Tracks, continued on page 7