The Superstition Mountains were hot and angry one day and they knocked me down, literally, on a steep hillside and into a sharp, bone-white rock.
The impact on my shin was deep and quick, cutting in. It was barely bleeding, but it was pale in color.
We had been target shooting and we were less than a quarter mile from the vehicle, where my husband patched me up with a first aid kit.
It was just a flesh wound.
Two days later, I had my only opportunity to wander the desert after spending nearly three weeks in the Valley of the Sun.
I wasn't about to squander my only chance because of a little shin-cut.
The desert was in bloom!
I approached a unique desert rock pinnacle, and discovered the steep, bare-rock and scree trail that lead to its base.
I ascended the challenging uphill with ease, reaching a saddle in the rock where I did a small scramble to a ledge.
The steep slope on the downhill was my redemption for the deep shin cut two days ago.
I was careful, but I faced down the hill without fear, and I didn't fall! The sweltering heat on my face once I reached the valley felt like a friendly pat on the back from the desert.
At the base of the outcropping, I rejoined the main trail.
Once back to the main trail, I followed it uphill, climbing slowly out of the desert valley that I was in.
The day was hot like an oven, but the wind still had a cool feeling to it.
The intermittent clouds never seemed to pass directly overhead, instead casting distant shadows on desert formations.
I approached a cool rock wall, down which a thin stream of water flowed.
This was the "waterfall" in the desert, providing an oasis from the midday sun.
I climbed up the hillside adjacent to the waterfall, and got an amazing view into the vast Tonto National Forest!
The little puffy clouds may not have provided any shade, but they continued to provide perfect photo opportunities.
I loved the interplay with the shadows.
Unfortunately, my time in the desert was passing by too quickly, and it was time to descend the trail.
I had climbed up over 2500 ft in the canyon, and I felt the heat difference as I went back down.
Rock lizards darted out of my way on the trail, and I finally managed to nab a photo of one as she skittered away.
All the blooms in the desert were fantastic. Spring is definitely an amazing time in the Superstition Wilderness.
As I descended the trail, I took one last look at the rock pinnacle that I had challenged earlier in my adventure.
What a great day in the wild Sonoran Desert.
I can't wait to return someday and top out on the Superstition Mountains, which I didn't get to do this time around.
But for now, it's back to Colorado!
