Swimming in the Superstitions!!

[jmzblond]

YES, I said it... swimming!! Arizonaheat and I strolled off this morning from the Peralta T/H more as a therapy hike for me, rather than our usual "kick-n-the-butt" style. I hadn't been out on a trail since January, and I told AzHt that I needed just a little leisurely, no big deal, more fun and relaxing type of hike to help motivate me back into the groove of hiking again... just a little something to get my feet wet!! No pun intended, but it sure is funny and fitting. And wet we did...
We decided to go up Lower Barks Canyon so he could show me all the water there since our last visit back in January. It was amazing!! And once again, we found ourselves totally alone... not another soul in the canyon all day. He also took me up and into the mine shaft he had found on Friday. Except today, the mine had more than just bats in it. We startled a ringtail who more than likely has a nest back in there as it is during their mating season right now. So we turned around and let him get back to whatever it was he was doing.
We hiked more or less the whole entire lower canyon, or at least what had water running through it, and then decided to turn around. We made several stops along the way snacking, chatting, and listening (when I would stop talking, as Kent so keenly pointed out is a very rare occurance!! ) to the beautiful sounds of the waterfalls running off the rocks. On the return, we stopped at a water pool that he measured to be at least 6ft deep. We both looked at eachother and agreed that the opportunity to swim here would surely not come around again anytime soon. So, YES clothes and all, we jumped in!!!! Whooo, let me tell you... 50 degree water will absolutely take your breathe away for many seconds (felt more like a whole minute!!). Once we were able to catch our breathe and recover from the shock, the water felt awesome. We swam a little, took pics, and then lounged like lizards on the warm rocks while the sun dried and burnt us. But neither of us could resist jumping in again. In fact, Kent went in a third time!! It was so refreshing. We spent at least a good hour if not more there. All in all our 4 mile hike took over 7 hours!!
I can't tell you what an experience it was. There is nothing like it. Certainly one I will never forget. It was the perfect day... exactly what I was looking for. Thanks, Kent... you are a great friend.
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Blond, James Blond... double "O", uh oh!!

"The romantic lifestyle of goats leaves a lot of time for digesting books" Charlotte La Chevre, (taken from "Conversations With A Goat" by Robert Shekter)

[Arizonaheat]

I couldn't put it better if I tried. It was truly a great day, and yes that water definitely would take ones breath away. The top of my once lilly white feet are now a nice lobster red. I would do it again in a heart beat, one couldn't ask for a more serene setting or more solitude. FANTASTIC. Jaimi are you sure you don't want to play hooky tomorrow?

A quick note, while we were talking with the forest service guy after our hike telling him what we had done, he asked if we saw any snakes. We said, no, but lots of lizards so the snakes wouldn't be far behind. He said he had reports of three snake sitings today, so it is time to be on guard again.
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Our lives are not determined by what happens to us but by how we react to what happens, not by what life brings to us, but by the attitude we bring to life.

[plummer150]

Wow, now thats crazy! I've never even done something like that while hiking. Maybe I should next time. However, that won't be happening anytime soon out here, it is finaly at least getting somewhat warmer out here though!
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"IRONMAN" cometh, hiketh, destroyeth

[Arizonaheat]

http://hikearizona.com/photocodeZOOM.php?ID=553&TNI=250

[GTG]

I've seen lots of things in the water in the desert. Tadpoles, frogs, turtles, prehistoric shrimp, fish, etc. but never anything like these critters -
http://hikearizona.com/phoZOOM.php?ZIP=5347

"Don't get out of the boat man."

GTG
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Good things come to those who walk.

[jmzblond]