Gotta love the first day of hiking season. We did our “default” trail today. It’s the one that we occasionally use to measure our hiking progress, and we did it in record time! (but that’s another whole blog) In the Fall this isn’t the most attractive trail. It’s very much Arizona desert… scrub and cactus. This time of year there isn’t much in bloom and very little green. Still, it’s beautiful in its own half-dead, tumbleweed Old West kinda way. We also like this trail for its openness. This is the time of year that you just keep your fingers crossed that the critters are back in hibernation. (An open trail makes it easier to see them, and gives you a choice of escape routes) I’m sure that something was trying to get away from those hawks we saw but it wasn’t us and we saw nothing else. No need for escape today 🙂

 While you’re out there you really don’t think about much else, or much of anything at all in fact. My phone worked but I’m just finding out that the screen isn’t so readable in direct sunlight. Wow, relaxing AND peaceful, real estate agents don’t get too much of that. Looking forward to the next 6 or 7 months of perfect weather and hopefully many more beautiful treks through the Arizona desert.