Down, Down, Down - Camelback Peak, part 4
Apr. 8th, 2023 09:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
canyonwalkerPhoenix Getaway Travelog #8
Echo Canyon Trail - Sun, 1 Apr 2023, 12pm
The old saying, "What goes up must come down" certainly applies ot hiking. I mean, unless you want to live atop the mountain like a hermit! So after enjoying the fruits of our labor atop Camelback Peak we began our way down.
The upper reaches of the trail— which hardly counts as a trail as much as a bouldering route— were slow going. Even though gravity was now working in our favor, as we didn't have to fight it climbing up, it still wasn't our friend as it was constantly trying to pull us down too fast. It was slow going because with my already tired muscles I needed to stop to rest a lot. Yes, I needed to rest going downhill!
At least some of the time rest spots afforded nice views. This pic (above) shows the view to the southwest across Phoenix.
Once my legs were slightly less rubbery it was time to continue down.
Ah, one of the sections with a rail! I was so happy to see this as it gave me something to hold onto with my hands so that my legs didn't have to do all the work. ...But, good news/bad news: the rail is here because it's really steep. Soon my hands were sore from all the pressure, even with workout gloves.
Remember, what goes up must come down. As it wasn't just one steep section up, it was, like, eight, that means there are eight steep sections going down.
With this two-rail section (pic above) we're near the end. Below this are only two more steep sections. You can see we're getting close to the valley floor.
Unfortunately shortly after taking this picture I twisted my shoulder. I was bracing myself with my hand on that rail on the right. With my arm out in front of me, working to slow my descent, my rubbery legs gave way beneath me. I slipped down a boulder and wrench my arm around behind me.
Well, it's about noon now and we've gotten all the way to the bottom. The last bit of the trail I shambled down, moving slowly so as not to risk a fall. There are no rails there as it's not super steep, but there are loose dirt and pebbles which make it a slipping hazard.
I'm sure I had an "I'm completely done" look on my face. I knew that look from seeing it on the faces of the early risers who were coming down the trail as we started up. It was a butt-kicker of a hike, and I'm not sure how long I'm going to have an aching shoulder— I think I'm going to stop at a drugstore for some lidocaine rub on the way back to the hotel— but it was worth it. In beauty I walk.
Echo Canyon Trail - Sun, 1 Apr 2023, 12pm
The old saying, "What goes up must come down" certainly applies ot hiking. I mean, unless you want to live atop the mountain like a hermit! So after enjoying the fruits of our labor atop Camelback Peak we began our way down.
The upper reaches of the trail— which hardly counts as a trail as much as a bouldering route— were slow going. Even though gravity was now working in our favor, as we didn't have to fight it climbing up, it still wasn't our friend as it was constantly trying to pull us down too fast. It was slow going because with my already tired muscles I needed to stop to rest a lot. Yes, I needed to rest going downhill!
At least some of the time rest spots afforded nice views. This pic (above) shows the view to the southwest across Phoenix.
Once my legs were slightly less rubbery it was time to continue down.
Ah, one of the sections with a rail! I was so happy to see this as it gave me something to hold onto with my hands so that my legs didn't have to do all the work. ...But, good news/bad news: the rail is here because it's really steep. Soon my hands were sore from all the pressure, even with workout gloves.
Remember, what goes up must come down. As it wasn't just one steep section up, it was, like, eight, that means there are eight steep sections going down.
With this two-rail section (pic above) we're near the end. Below this are only two more steep sections. You can see we're getting close to the valley floor.
Unfortunately shortly after taking this picture I twisted my shoulder. I was bracing myself with my hand on that rail on the right. With my arm out in front of me, working to slow my descent, my rubbery legs gave way beneath me. I slipped down a boulder and wrench my arm around behind me.
Well, it's about noon now and we've gotten all the way to the bottom. The last bit of the trail I shambled down, moving slowly so as not to risk a fall. There are no rails there as it's not super steep, but there are loose dirt and pebbles which make it a slipping hazard.
I'm sure I had an "I'm completely done" look on my face. I knew that look from seeing it on the faces of the early risers who were coming down the trail as we started up. It was a butt-kicker of a hike, and I'm not sure how long I'm going to have an aching shoulder— I think I'm going to stop at a drugstore for some lidocaine rub on the way back to the hotel— but it was worth it. In beauty I walk.
