Monthly Archives: November 2023

2023-08-23

DF is driving us up the scenic Mt. Lemon Highway. This is a rare occurrence. It’s been many decades since I have not been the driver on Mt Lemon. The views are fantastic of course, but today, I am seeing details, as if for a first time. The mountain air is flowing through the windows; I’m barefoot all over.

Approaching the parking lot, there is a biker in very low gear aside the road. I figure that he will arrive as I’m getting out of the car to put on my wrap-around cover. I also see another biker, who is just standing in the parking lot when we arrive, but he is on the driver side of the car and I’m a passenger. So, I wait a moment and focus on putting on my hiking shoes.

The biker arrives and then pedals up the steep hill to the kiosk and trail map, while I change out of my fully nude outfit. I simply place a kilt across my lap. He looks at the map with his head sideways, squinting.  He then pulls out a quick vape and leaves.

From the parking lot, I see him through a break in the trees on the slope above. He is taking our planned trail. In front of us, I see that he is walking his bike up the steep long hill climb. I wonder if he will decide to come back in defeat. It is quite an initial climb. I keep the kilt on.

This is the long haul that I remember from our last visit. When DF realizes that we are only half way up the hillside, her eyes widen and then a look of disappointment crosses her face, before resolve.

I trudge on step by step, determined to at least get to the top before I have my impending heart attack. I begin to feel it in my calves and my hard breathing in the center of my chest. I’m not used to this. I haven’t been getting enough of these challenges.

We pass the Guadalupe rock formation, so I know that we are nearing the top and the end of the arduous climb. I tell DF that one day, I’d like to climb up there and place a solar light in that slit. It would glow for miles. It’d probably be in the newspapers as a miracle before anyone got up in there to investigate.

I look for the place where a uniformed forest volunteer got off of the beaten path during our previous trip. Perhaps our shorter hike will be there, investigating his mysterious route. But, after looking, I seem to have missed it.

We will have a shorter trip, no doubt. There is a chance of rain from the north side of the mountain range after 2pm. In the meantime, it gives us a nice cloud cover. The air is cooler because of the elevation here. It’s probably high 70F’s give or take, with a breeze and wind gusts. It feels good in just the wrap kilt, but of course I want more freedom. 

We have reached the top of the hill. The highway has become very tiny way down below us and as it winds up the mountains across the valley. My breath and the vista, bring me away from the goal and into the grander sense of the moment. I unwrap the kilt, slip off the pack and enjoy the breeze.

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