 |
| Hikers at junction of Hermit and Dripping Spring trails... Harvey, Sandy, Jerry, Sandra, Diane |
Day 1: Our first night was at saddle just south of Whites Butte (near top of redwall), a dry camp.
Day 2: The next day we drop down the slope to the Tonto level before then getting to Boucher Creek. The slope wasn't too bad, but we had to sit down to reach the next step in many places, making it slow going. We camped next to Boucher Creek for our second night, joining the local residents (bull frogs). We all enjoyed the sound of the frogs and soaking in the creek.
Day 3: We packed up and headed to Hermit Creek, and enjoyed relaxing in the shade and soaking in the river.
Day 4: We moved camp to Hermit Camp up from the river, and the weather started to change. Some of us didn't bring tents, so we took the campsite under the overhang. Sandy had a tent so she set up in the clearing. Sure enough, the wind brought in rain throughout the night. Sandy's tent collapsed but she stuck it out.
Day 5: We started out early because we all had a difficult night and wanted to get out of the rain. We all went our own pace and planned to meet up in the parking lot. The wind was blowing rain but that changed to sleet the higher we got. When Sandy and I got to the Santa Maria Spring's rest house, we found Harvey hunkered under his sleeping back with the stove between his feet trying to get warm. I looked at Sandy and said, "I can't stop; I have to keep moving to stay warm." Sandy quickly agreed and we trudged on and up with our heads down into the sleet and wind. When we got to the cars, we quickly jumped in and changed into dry clothes, and waiting for the others.
Another one of those trips with all kinds of weather...warm enough to soak in the creeks and river, but then cold and wet enough for snow.
Photos
No comments:
Post a Comment