Flashlight Walk
Posted by quinncreative on March 23, 2008
Full moon was a few nights ago, so the moon comes up, orange as a copper penny, around 7:4 p.m. Spring is here, complete with nature flying her freak flag–with the ripe bitter oranges that look full and juicy but are filled with mouth-puckering, sour juice and pulp. Or with trees that have sprouted out both above and below the graft, two different kinds of the same tree blooming on one stem.
On Spring days there are endless activities to try in Phoenix. Like the frantic activity in Fall on the East Coast, before winter slush and depression set in, our Spring is packed with the activities that in July and August, we will not pursue. It will be too hot to cross a parking lot, much less hike, walk through gardens, or climb the local mountains.
So when I read about the flashlight walk through the San Tan Mountains south of Queen Creek, I had to try it. I thought I might be the only person to show up. After all, hiking in the dark, with a flashlight if the moon isn’t bright enough, didn’t seem like it would have a lot of appeal to TV nation. I was wrong. About 50 people showed up, some with lights clipped to the visors of their caps.
The sun set, leaving a nice turquoise light in the West and a spreading indigo sky in the East. The group struck out, a bit vigorously for my abilities. We were a mixed group, families, a few dogs, and couples. Many people had walking sicks or trekking poles. The first half mile we hiked in granite ground down to a sand-like consistency. It was like walking on the beach. Then the trail headed up, directly up into the stars. The mountains were silhouetted around us, and one by one the constellations appearing in the sky. Orion, the two dippers, the seven sisters. No Milky Way, though. Phoenix has too much light pollution.
I began to drop back, not being able to keep up the pace. My flashlight came out, because the trail turned into sheets of stone, and it was hard to find footing. You don’t want to stumble off the trail into a cholla cactus. It will break off a piece and go with you, carried along in your jeans or skin on 3-inch spikes.
As people passed me, the trail ahead was dotted with moving lights as people used them to check out the terrain, then turned them off to have the moon light the way. Halfway through, we stopped to let people who were tired or didn’t want to take the steeper part of the trail turn back. I decided to stay, but next time, I’m taking a stick.
The 3-plus mile walk was worthwhile and interesting. I worried too much about my footing on the top half of the walk to call it fun, but it is an experience I’ve never had before, and one worth doing before it gets too hot.
–Quinn McDonald is a certified creativity coach and a beginning hiker. Tomorrow she goes shopping for some decent hiking boots, sneakers aren’t sturdy enough for hiking up mountains. (c) 2008 All rights reserved.
March 23, 2008 at 6:24 pm
You make me miss living out West. Have fun shoppping for some decent hiking boots! I remember when I had my experience of sneakers in the mountains. Have been grateful for hiking boots ever since
===And out here, you need desert boots. I had water-proof, heavy leather boots that heated up my feet to “broil” and they were too hot even in December and January. I’m happier in boots that allow circulation and still protect my ankles. And they work for the bike, too! -Q
March 24, 2008 at 7:23 am
The folks who live in my community organize one of these night hikes each year on Winter Solstice. They hike on Superstition Mountain, and I understand it is a stimulating experience. I keep telling myself I should do it, but haven’t so far. No particular reason except that that are so many events planned at that time of the year.
I loved your description of the experience. By the way, when you hike in the desert, day or night, carry a flat, fine toothed comb with you. If you get cactus needle in your jeans,lay the comb flat against the material, and slide it across the area…it will catch the needles and pull them out without your getting them in your fingers. I’ve not tried this, but I understand from an old desert rat that it works.
Vi
====> What a great idea, Vi! A fine-tooth comb is easy to carry and has multiple uses–removal of cactus spines, and I discovered, you can use it to move a plant piece for a better picture. Some plants don’t like to be touched, and a comb is a good way to find out which ones hide bees, too.
March 24, 2008 at 1:04 pm
The night hike sounds like a fascinating idea.
March 24, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I loved this, Quinn, I felt like I was with you. Don’t know about the cactus but here in Australia there are wild burrs and thorns that like to hitch a ride. We are watching the leaves change for autumn, might get some pictures and post them so Foodies can enjoy our changing mountain landscape.
April 3, 2008 at 6:49 am
What a great description. With a peripheral polyneuropathy (nerve problem in the legs) which affects my balance, walking in the dark or when I don’t see the ground well isn’t something I do well. Other than that, I would love such a hike. It is now easy to buy a potent white LED flashlight that straps to your forehead; I use one when walking at night. Around here, joggers wear them at night too, to fend off car traffic.
As for seasons, sorry, I need four of them and feel I appreciate spring all the more after a dreary winter. I love your descriptions of the desert and would love to visit, but not live there.
=====> You would have loved the hike. The guide had headlights in his hat, and many people brought flashlights. And we DO have four seasons. But like the colors in the desert, it’s just more subtle. What I noticed most of all, was the smell after rain, which is totally different than anyplace else I’ve ever lived, and the migrating birds. While there aren’t as many birds that live here year round, we have strong migration patterns and the yard will be full of Oregon juncos one day and you’ll see American coots the next. Then they are gone. It’s another way of telling seasons. The ocotillo is bare and thorny in the winter and green like a pipe cleaner in spring and summer. It’s very clear what season we are in, even without snow. And you can always drive two hours north to see that.