We hiked together today....

Our Location: Near Tonopah, Arizona


Brrrrr is the best way to describe this morning and most of the day in fact. It did warm up of course but the wind wouldn’t ever allow the day to feel warm enough to enjoy shorts or short sleeves or even to be outside without a heavy sweater or a zipped up hoodie. However that is not a complaint, it is merely recording the facts. 

Magic is the white Arabian, and Ranger is the darker once wild Mustang.

  

A quick breakfast and hot drink, well actually not quick but you get the point, after which Riley and I were out the door heading for a hike together. Yes, I know quite a shocker but it’s true. We headed back to the wind worn rocky area behind the Igloo. I’ve been there before but Riley has merely gazed at it through the window, so today was the day for her to make a trek back there. She wasn’t comfortable going on her own and I wasn’t comfortable with her going solo anyway. 

 

We ended up on that ridge line you can barely make out.

You can see it much clearer now.

The day’s pictures may be a bit of a repeat but they are freshly taken today. Today the views were witnessed with a twinkle in a fresh pair of eyes. We took our time and headed off along the roadway but soon gave it up for the easier route cross country. A few humps, bumps and dips and pretty soon we were at the base of the smaller incline leading up to the flat top at the bottom of the wind worn area. I know, not a good description but it’s the best I can do.
 

That's us way off over there.

With Riley leading the way we were soon up on the small flat topped area that was the goal for today. We sat and rested, taking in the sights and enjoying the quiet all around us. If possible the area looks even more green than before. A deeper shade of green, one that comes with age. It is no longer the young fresh vibrant green of spring but the older more settled colour of summer green. It’s now a hardier hue, with rich deep tones that speak of aging, maturity and less youth. Not the tender shoots that look like fine hair but a coarser, thicker stock, less fragile and more rugged. Still inviting but in a different way. 

 

That's Miss Riley coming a bit farther up the hillside. I didn't leave her behind but went to check out the climb.

We hunted a way down on the west side of this very same hill and crossed over the small valley there, finding our way over the water courses that streak across in various places. Some were deeper than others, river stones, bigger stepping stones, bigger still were stones that weren’t meant for walking on, or over but only around. Snags of old branches, Ocotillo arms, Palo Verde limbs and just debris that has collected. The rocky bottom to the small valley like area made the going a bit more uncomfortable but very manageable. 

Those little white dots in the middle are other rigs in the more popular area of Saddle Mountain BLM.

Finally we started climbing again, toward a ridge that goes up the valley, the other side of the ridge has a road that I’ve walked before. I can’t remember if we can get down to the road or not but we keep moving around the outer edge of the ridge hoping. We skirt here and there huge piles of rocks that we think will not offer us any passage through them and before long we are looking down toward that very road I mentioned. Hmm…..no easy way down there and so we give up that idea and instead turn back toward home and a shorter path down the hillside. Easier going downhill in this area. The rocks aren’t as difficult to maneuver around on the downward slope. Have you ever noticed that before? 

Those paths or roads are much rougher than they look.

 

Our feet hit the bottom and we strike off on the road way that we find easily now. We are enjoying the quiet, the shortened views and the walking. Once again we are sent off the roadway by the woman with the ‘ oo big to handle' dog. She and her companion, a male that also has a dog, turn and go back the other way, the way they came as we know they are from the rig across the way that we can see with the flag flying. We find our way back to the road again after this detour and continue along. Soon we head off cross country and aim directly for the Igloo. The walking is easy and we make it pretty quickly. Happy to be home once more we find the time is already 12:30 pm. The day is half over.

The roadway goes along the bottom of the photo and it's a long way down to get to it.

We walked just a bit over 2.5 miles and were gone a bit over an hour. Not a bad way to spend a little time for us. We’re talking about a different hike in the next few days if it’s warm enough. Not different for me but new for Riley and I’m happy to tag along with her. 

We are on the upper side of the ridge here looking down.

Salisbury steak meatballs over rice was our lunch today and while I’m not a gravy person I truly enjoyed it today. We have enough meatballs and gravy left over for tomorrow on a nice piece of toast or perhaps we will make it into a pot pie and add some veggies to it. We also froze the extras meat balls we didn't cook up in bags of 6 for future use. I like having those things we can pull out and use.

Back once again on the valley floor. We are over toward those peaks you can see in the middle of the photo.

The rest of the day we spent reading, napping in our chairs and just enjoying the warmth of the Igloo. Not an exciting day but we enjoyed it and that’s what counts. With clouds starting to appear in the sky I think tomorrow may be a less than stellar day here in the Saddle Mountain area but we shall see what it is when we wake up.

Having a rest and a look at the view.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you enjoyed your visit. I also hope that your day has been perfect in every way, just the way you wanted it to be.
 

Until next time… take care, be safe,

Deb