In Spite of the Heat

[eyesup]

It rained last Monday for about 20 min. Not hard. The 1st rain since the end of Feb. It was just enough to coat everything and cool it down about 10º. It didn’t get very humid from the rain as the beginning humidity was only about 2%. And the forecast for Tuesday was only 106º so I decided to get out and do an early hike. It was close to 90º and cloudy when I walked out to the trail at 7:00 am, but a slight breeze made it pleasant. It was a little hazy off on the horizons when I got there but it burned off fast as it warmed up. Since there is no shade and the nearest water is a 3-1/2 mile hike, my intent was to try and be out of there by 10:00 am.

I put my Vibrams on in the car and headed out into the eastern end of the valley. I decided to stay up on the hills and not go down to the valley floor. I knew I wouldn’t be there long so I was just wandering around looking at the landscape.

We had a wet winter and all over the slopes and tops of the hills there are small red cactus popping up. I think they are cholla. I don’t remember ever seeing this many. They are everywhere. If they all survive, it’ll be a cholla forest. I headed up some small hills toward the valley trying to avoid the little cactus sprouts everywhere. I am discovering that the Vibrams do not do well in a prickly environment. The cloth sides do not stop the cholla so I had to stop once or twice to pull the pricklys out.


The low hills near the trailhead

Walking in the desert is a challenge. Everything has a defense against being eaten or stepped on. In the summer, add to that the heat and walking up even a slight hill is a good workout. I have hiked here before when the temps were in the low hundreds.

Low hills terrain	Small cacti	Small cacti area shot

The little chollas are a kind of magenta color and very dark. They add a random pattern of dots, a scattering of color in a gray and brown landscape. As I walked up on the top I headed toward the valley. The desert surface was hard-packed and easy to move on, except for the cactus buds that I had to keep avoiding. I wanted to go to the red sandstone cliffs at the head of the valley and spend some time there. That’s up a little higher and you have a good 360º view.

Mormon Tea on the rocks	On the outcrop looking north	More of the little chollas

I had to get a picture of The Mormon Tea in the middle of the sandstone. As many times as I have seen plants, not only growing but thriving, in the middle of a rock or stone, it always amazes me when I see one. I am compelled to take the picture. Life manages to grab a hold in the most unlikely places. They are more easily seen in the desert or mountainous regions.

To get to cliffs I had to cross a large ravine. Before that I had to find a nice size rock to sit on to get the thorns out of my Vibrams. I didn’t want to sit on the ground with all the chollas around. As I walk it is as quiet as I expected, except for the air traffic. After a while I stop hearing them and they just fade into the background. I grew up in the south so I am used to tuning out the drone of background noise.


At the ravine. Go through or around?

After crossing the ravine I head up to the top of the ridge where the cliffs are. The clouds and haze are gone and the sun is right in front of me. I find a perfect spot to sit and lay back for a bit. It is warming up and I can enjoy the heat as it soaks in.

On the cliffs looking west	Walking along the cliff edge	Yet another mylar balloon

I had found one of those balloons on a previous hike, from this post. I picked up this one on the way back to the car. We always carry plastic bags to pick up trash we find. Old habit from Scouts.

I managed to get some pics even though I forgot my little pocket tripod. I had to get inventive using the top of my pack and rocks. There are no trees to wedge it into or fence posts to prop the camera on so some of the pictures are slightly tilted.

The 5 toes work very well on an established trail, but in places I had to walk across areas of sharp rocks slightly smaller than ping pong balls. Sharp edges of limestone or shale made me wish I had worn something more durable. The prickly little chollas also were a bother, but there were just so many of them.
 
Next time I’ll wear my Vibrams’s only if I will be on smoother surfaces.

I got in my car at 10:05 am and the temp was 98º. Right time, right temperature. What heat?

Duane

[jbeegoode]

Backup, or no-backup?

Are you wearing KSO's? They don't do as well in the sharp pingpong balls and stickers, unless your feet are conditioned and you are careful. I got the beefier sole ones (a pair with straps came in the mail just today). They grip wet river rick and cushion the sharp surfaces better. Still better than barefoot or sandals to me.
Jbee

[eyesup]

Yep! KSO’s.

They are older and the soles are not so thick. I can feel smaller rocks and shapes when I walk. I’ve never had the thicker soled model but I like the feel of these.

I found the post I wrote on TSNS after I got these and read what I wrote about the 1st hike I did. I called them, “thick socks”. My body’s reaction is still the same. My feet and calf muscles always get a good workout. My toes also get used more than when wearing a standard shoe. A day or two later I am still feeling the results of the workout my lower legs got from wearing the 5Toes on the hike.

No, I didn’t go with no backup. I should have.
I have noticed that my impressions are different when I do that.
That valley is a great spot for that kind of hike.

Duane

[jbeegoode]

DF has been using a pair of KSO's in all terrain. My feet are recovering from decades of cowboy boots and are more ridged than hers. She has been just fine in those sharp pingpong environments. She just has made observation of the terrain, but has made no real complaints. My KSO's work better for me, if I massage and stretch my feet first, as with bare foot, too. The feet flex and absorb much better.

The soles are different on these new ones. I took them for a test spin on the stealth trail when I got them. The soles are less stiff than my spyrodon's, but thicker than the KSO's. I'm happy. They are billed as "trail shoes."
Jbee

[eyesup]

Walking on the stones wasn’t too bad, Jbee.
I was more concerned about the sides getting ripped up. They are a very sharp edged limestone.
Though the cholla spines are what slowed me down. 

Duane

[jbeegoode]

I've been slowed by terrain, quickened by rattlers, but nothing has ever stopped me cold quicker than a cholla pricker.
Jbee

[eyesup]

Yeah! The only way to not get those is to wear full cover shoes, and I ain’t doin’ that.
I might if I were backpacking with a full load, but not on a day hike.

They look like little sea-urchins and can hurt just like’em.

Duane