My Soulful Birthday

 I decided a few years ago to wake up in a new place on my birthday for as many birthdays as possible.  As I have told some friends, since I am past the age of one night stands, this takes some planning.  I have a container that holds strips of paper with ideas of where to go....not too far from home.  Rather than plucking a piece of paper from the container, this year I set an intention to visit Aravaipa Wilderness   (Ari-VI-puh). I know my father, G. S. Ryan had done geological studies in the area and written reports about it in the 80's.  (Black Rock Wilderness Study Area, Graham County, Arizona MLA 5-85)

I had heard how unique the trail through the 12.2 mile canyon is as one needs to slosh through water much of the time.  The creek IS the trail sometimes.  With increasing age, decreasing mobility and recent health concerns,  I felt compelled to see what I could see, walking in Dad's footsteps.  Had I been 20 to 30 years younger, I might have planned to obtain a 3 day permit and walk from one end to the other.  Of course,  there is a huge logistical factor when one makes this type of plan.  Hikers can enter from the West (easier access) or the East.  The East entrance is off of a 40+ mile of dirt road, the last 10 showing signs, "Enter at your own risk".  There was only one permit available and that was for one day....my birthday!  It was meant to be even if that meant taking the more daunting entrance. With permit secured, now I needed lodging fairly close.  I decided on a cabin at Roper Lake State Park. 

                                       

 Not exactly close, but doable.  My mapping system had the distance taking one hour and 43 minutes.....times two since I would travel back to the cabin the same day.  I talked to myself on the drive out and reasoned that I needed to spend four hours in the canyon to feel like it was worthwhile.  Was I up to it?  Heck, yes!  I arose the next morning at 4:30 and drove onto the beginning of the dirt road at sunrise. 

Aravaipa Wilderness is in the distance.

                                                

 The drive took me past many ranch homes as I  crossed water streams along the way.

I also drove into the rather beleaguered town of Klondyke. If you Google the town, you will see it has an interesting history.  Wikipedia states only 12 people populate the area now.  Just a few miles past Klondyke is where the signs started appearing for "at your own risk".  I breathed deeply and told myself to be prudent.  After all, I was doing this alone and on my 72nd birthday.  I soon came across a parking area with the standard back woods outhouse.  Also posted was the sign announcing the beginning of the

 wilderness and a map. 

 The map indicated another parking area maybe a mile on down the road.  So, I decided to give it a try.  Well, within one minute I saw the sandy drop off into the stream and thought better of it!  It was necessary to back up the hill into the first parking area but that is just what I did!  I gathered my pack, another pair of socks and water shoes and headed out.  

Right away I was faced with crossing the clear stream, one of four that I would cross over the next hour and a half.

                                        

  Along the way I saw a few deer, a rather large pack of javelina and many birds.  

Can you spot the javelina?  There were at least 15 hiding in bushes and drinking from the stream.

                                                

                                                                

There were a couple of structures that I passed and I imagine families stayed in them up until the 40's based on some of the materials or things in the yards. 

I had no encounter with another human until I crossed the fourth stream.  A family of four passed me in a vehicle which I would see again about a half hour later as they changed a flat tire.  I took that opportunity to stop and sit in sunlight to enjoy a snack.  It was so peaceful and I did have my hammock so I pulled it out and hung it up for a bit of a snooze.  

I could have stayed there hours, but I listened to my body and turned back after a nice rest.  As I hiked back, I did encounter the pack of javelinas again, but more of a distance.  I also saw wild turkeys marching down the middle of a stream I would need to cross. 

So, why was the trip soulful?  You already saw the link with my father in the area.  When I was a teen, his job took the family to Tucson, Arizona.  At the time of the move, I had two younger sisters.  A third sister was born in Tucson.  My mother loved the Arizona sun, but the family would move away in 1969 and my mother would not have Arizona sun to bask in again.  She and one of my sisters has left the planet.  I took time while in the sun to acknowledge the strength and love I had received in my early days.  It felt good to take a pensive moment and feel the spirit of the biological family of my youth.  Of course, then there was the symbolism of walking in the water on my birthday.  I so enjoyed silently singing, "Wade in the Water" as I took each cautious step!  

                                                    

                                                     

I watched this truck make a few attempts at climbing the sandy hill and was happy I had parked where I did!

The hike had been just enough.  My body was tired even though I had just done a bit under five miles.  I had asked the attendant at Roper Lake State Park where I should have my birthday meal and headed to Casa Manana straight away.