Return to Hiking

I've taken the last few days to get out on the bike as the pedaling motion did nothing to aggravate the groin pull.  Nothing too strenuous, just 30-40 mile rides and kind of flat.  I did roll through Saguaro National Park East and stopped to take the above image.  Unremarkable except the coverings for the picnic areas are repurposed bomb bay doors from B-29 Superfortress'.  

Sooooo, time to test out an injury that is keeping Lebron James on the sideline for 15+ basketball games.  Yeah, his was much worse and the rigors of basketball much more demanding.  I slotted in with a moderate hiking group led by Alex who let me know if I had a problem, they would not carry me back. 

I arrived too early so walked around for a few minutes at the Brown Mountain trailhead on the far west side, in the Saguaro National Park West.  Hard to believe birds fly into this warren of needles and make a nest.

Eventually,  Alex, Tim, Terry and Lola arrived and we began following a rolling route where eventually, Lola split off to hike around the mountain while the rest of our group headed up and over.

A strange looking Saguaro having rabbit ears.  Also strange was my behavior because the group was startled that I asked if the climb to the peak had begun and when told it had, I turned around, headed back to a wash which indicated the start of the climb and then, for the sake of hunting a Strava segment, hit it pretty hard and later.....

….yay, got the CR for the segment.  Reaching the top of Brown Mountain I was surprised to find.....

….rather than descending to our planned reunion point at a picnic area, the trail dropped and then rose again and again as we followed a ridgeline.  Really enjoyed this trail, which covered 2 miles prior to reaching.....

….the picnic area.  It was a pleasant wait for the others to arrive.  Sun, warm temps and throughout I could hear.....

….Raptors screeching in their enclosures from the adjoining Desert Museum.  The group gathered for a snack and then, rather than go up and over the ridgeline to the trailhead we all....

…..followed the flatish trail that bordered the mountains.  Finished with 5.5 miles and 800' of climbing.  It seems all systems are back to normal which is good because I am leading a small group on an epic hike, Wednesday.  Really looking forward to that.