We played some hooky this morning. Both Magnum and I had a light workload today, and Magnum suggested "a hike or something".
Okay.
We took advantage of the fact that it's not the weekend and went to a popular local hiking trail: [Arthur's Rock]. The hike is about 3.5 miles, round trip, and gains about 1100 feet of elevation. We got to the trailhead around 8am, and the heat was already kicking in. It would be a "heat training" kinda day.
As expected, we saw only a handful of other hikers since it's Monday. The final push to the summit is this gratifying chute scramble.
We hung out atop Arthur for several minutes, taking in the views, trying to figure out different landmarks.
Magnum utilized his trekking poles for his sketchy knees and wobbly ankles, needed mostly for the descent.
At one point, as we navigated the trail under the full on sun, we heard what at first, to me, sounded like a horny grasshopper stridulation. Upon closer inspection, it was a frickin' rattlesnake giving us a fair warning!
Snake was right next to the trail, within easy striking distance of our naked shins, poised at the ready. Magnum looked at it and said, "oh hey, it's a rattlesnake" then made like he was just gonna keep on a-walking.
I said, "hold the phone!" or something like that. We decided we should back off and consider our next move as the trail was quite narrow at that point. As we did so, Snake backed off and slithered off away from the trail. We proceeded on by, "thanks for the warning, Snake!" Nice of him/ her.
We made it back to the trailhead without further incident, passing a few other hikers headed upwards. All in all, a good use of hooky morning.
Now for some unabashed product placement:
"Thirsty for Justice" bike-to-work day Law Firm freebie water bottle = expendable in case I fell off a cliff or was taken out by a rattler
What a hill! But then what a view!
ReplyDeleteYep, glad we went!
DeleteWaah! I would have run away screaming from a rattlesnake! Did you have to go back down that scramble? But what a view.
ReplyDeleteI'm told that rattlesnakes typically want nothing to do with us and will only strike when cornered. Fine by me!
DeleteYes, back down the scramble. Otherwise, we'd need ropes, and if we need ropes, I don't go there.
I think going back down would be even worse! Yeah, I've heard that about most scary creatures, but still would run away!
DeleteYeah I don't play around with snakes. We hiked a small cliff behind my FIL's house in Tucson and soon as we saw a snake, tucked tail and went back. No thanks.
ReplyDeleteSmart!
DeleteA beautiful view from up there. As for Rattlers, sometimes they are aggressive and sometimes they're chill, I stay away from any seen coz there's always that other one near it you don't see.
ReplyDeleteYep, they're sneaky!
Deletelololol on the not weed gummies.
ReplyDeleteGlad you didn't get bit, too. Good day all in all, eh?
Good day, yes!
DeleteFor the record, I've never had weed gummies 🙂
Really, honestly, I have nothing against people who do enjoy them. We have a friend who gets them. Not a big deal to me either way who does and who doesn't. All good, either way.
Delete