The Waterfall Trail

One cool, Phoenix afternoon, my husband wanted to go hiking. I was not too thrilled as I don't like to be cold and I don't really like the wind and it was a bit cloudy which isn't the greatest for pictures, but I humored him and went anyone:) I'm kind of a fair weather outside person. I like the outdoors when it is sunny and hot with very little wind and no bugs or other irritants. Many of you are wondering how I survive Iowa winters, and I will tell ya the secret is a lot of hot baths.The drive to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park was only a couple blocks west and a few blocks south my dear husband assured me. "I checked the map. We'll be there in no time," he said. So we hopped in the truck and sped off for hiking trails unknown. The tricky things about maps is that they make everything look waaaay closer than they really are. They should carry a disclaimer, much like on car mirrors only opposite, objects are much farther away than they appear. Half an hour later, we arrived at the entrance to the Regional Park. We meandered our way through the park and arrived at the visitor center. My husband gallantly offered to pay the fee and find out which trail would be best for a trepidatious hiker such as myself. Minutes later, he hopped back in the car and we finished the drive at a path marked "The Waterfall Trail."

I love waterfalls and the sound of a rambling creek. I got out of the car with a little more excitement than I had shown through journey so far and started on the path. A short way into the excursion, another pleasant surprise greeted me by way of my own personal warmers. While the day had been cool, the sun had warmed the rocks and they radiated heat. It was wonderful. The cool air above with warmth radiating from the earth. What a marvel. I'd heard of this concept, but had never been in the desert to experience it firsthand.
The hike proved far better than I had initially anticipated. Along the way, we saw a number of cactii in full bloom. The saguaros, while not in bloom, were magnificent in their own right. Tall and majestic and prickly, the saguaros towered over the desert floor; some standing as lonely soldiers, straight and bear; others seemed to represent the arid octopii, arms reaching every which way protruding from a rotund bodies.Interesting and varied. Who knew?The 1.8 mile hike proved to be fine for a non-athlete such as myself. The path was smooth, if winding, and all uphill to the waterfall. About half way up, we came across the stream bed flowing with...well...rocks, dirt and many hardy weeds. My husband had failed to mention that the waterfall was dry. No water at the waterfall. HMMMM! I suppose it would not carry the same attraction with the title "NO Water Waterfall Trail" or "The Dry Waterfall Trail" or "The Pile of Rocks That Could on Occasion Contain a Waterfall Trail," but since we were this far I decided to persevere. My perseverance was rewarded with a lovely ascent made of stone. I appreciated the carved steps. Set in place for the hikers convenience. When we lived in Spearfish, we had built a staircase of rock along the side our home, and I could appreciate the hard work that went into each step. They led the way to the a miniscule pond about 12 feet across and less than a foot deep. Small children and a hapless pup splashed in the water. The steep sides leading up from the pond revealed the waterfalls path down the mountain. The height showed it would be a majestic sight if, in fact, water were actually present at the waterfall. It was fun to see and the view was far reaching from that location. A few of our fellow sojourners went off the beaten path to gain the tipity top of the mountain. They must have failed to see the sign below.

I must admit, they were roughly the ages of my oldest child. and I felt a motherly tug to call them down. I mean, really, how would help get to them if they were suddenly stung by a scorpion or struck with the venom-filled teeth of a rattler. Seriously, a person should think of these things. I held my tongue, but was sorely tempted to bestow the wisdom of my years on their young heads.

The trek down the mountain took far less time, and the view was enjoyable, if not more so, as gravity worked with me. A baby snake, a chipmunk and a deer were the extent of our wildlife viewing. Unfortunately, they were all quicker than my shutter could fly. For a moment, I thought I heard the distinct cry of a coyote calling across the desert, but Jeff informed me it was only the howl of children calling into the cavernous openings at the top of the mountain.

The journey ended with a stop at Sam's taco fixings and a Coke Icee. I thought it was the perfect end to an interesting trail. Of course, any trip that involves shopping has to be good...right?

So the moral of this hike is: Though the waterfall may be empty the trail can still be full of fun.

Remember to live, love, and laugh,

Lori