Hike Up a Ravine

Amy and I drove to the end of Speedway to access Saguaro East NP.  I wanted to finish a hike I started a couple of weeks ago, topping out at the end of a ravine.

After about a mile, we entered a wash, began encountering boulders that, over time, spilled out of the ravine.  We began climbing.

It became quite steep in places but there were always enough natural handholds to grab and pull.

Reaching the point where I previously stopped, I again concluded the climb out was doable so kept going.

Coming over one wall, I encountered this "bowl", with walls 12' high.  Hmmm, but stepping back, I found a workaround up the left side and kept going.  Throughout, I always checked where my hands were going to be placed cause, ya know.....it was 70 degrees and rattlers come out of their dens to warm themselves on ledges.  

Eventually, the top of the ravine is reached and looking back, always disappointing that images don't do justice to the effort.

We've been decorating for Christmas, including putting lights around cactus in the back yard.  Beautiful full moon tonight!