Amazing Hike Today

The highlight of today was definately the 5 hour hike we went on. I was dreading my decision on this matter all week because I have never been one to turn down a challange but my doctor specifically told me NOT to walk for extended periods of time (his example was to class and back). Going against my better judgement I decided to accompany Dr. Arion, Coty (AKA Tough Love), Ian (AKA Sir Slips and Almost Dies - Alot), Justin (AKA 9 Year old), and O'Riley (AKA the tavern fool) on the hike.
Quick recap:

1. Ankle feels good, I can do this!
2. 20 foot rock face defeats half of us
3. Lost in a riverbed
4. Found the trail thanks to my incredible observational skills (we missed a set of stairs in the middle of the desert)
5. 2 Hr hike to the summit.
6. Lunch, for us and the chipmunk (he had trailmix)

On our way down things got a bit more eventful. We began by moseying on down the trail, my ankle began to throb. Around a third of the way down: DISASTER STRIKES!! Ian slips, proceeds to do 2 front flips, a back handspring and a barrel roll before he catches himself (with a little help on the dismount from me) narrowly escaping death by cactus. After that we scurried down the mountain quickly led by me the gimp.


All in all it was an incredible experience that was worth the ankle pain! Here are some of the pictures I snapped along the way.

 

Purple rocks with a cactus growing out of them!