Last time, I talked about my adventures at Bull Run, describing
lush forests and diverse terrain. Everything about that hike
epitomized what we as Californians have come to expect from our
backcountry. Since I began backpacking, I have had the privilege of
seeing many wonderful things in our state.
Last time, I talked about my adventures at Bull Run, describing lush forests and diverse terrain. Everything about that hike epitomized what we as Californians have come to expect from our backcountry. Since I began backpacking, I have had the privilege of seeing many wonderful things in our state.
This month, I experienced a sort of outdoor culture shock. If there was anyplace I could have gone that was as unlike the terrain of the Sierras, it was Arizona. I had the pleasure of hiking there this past weekend and having my first encounter with the desert.
My boyfriend Brian attends the University of Arizona in Tucson, which provided me with the perfect excuse to experience trails beyond the ones I had already explored. There are many places within a reasonable distance of the campus to hike, but I had heard that Gates Pass was famous for sunsets that can rival the most exotic of locales.
To my astonishment, there was no shade on the trail, unless you count the sun going down. The hardest thing for me to get used to was the absence of trees; instead of seeing a blanket of tree tops, there is cactus all around. On the way up the trail to where we were going to watch the sunset, I didn’t see flowers or moss or even a sprig of grass. I saw, you guessed it, cactus. I was surprised to find cacti that were very pretty and very unusual as well. This hike really brought home to me that on my California sojourns, I had really stopped paying close attention to the trails because I’d seen it all before – trees, mud, moss, leaves, plants and flowers. In Arizona, I found myself taking much more time to hike just because the abstract scenery diverted my attention to the point where I wasn’t even focusing on “getting there.” The sunsets in the desert are breathtaking. The colors of the sky look like a swirl of sherbets, as pinks and oranges play across the horizon, changing every time the sun drops even the slightest bit into the night.
Brian and I sat on a rock looking into the sky for about 45 minutes and it never got old. It was like reading a book you can’t put down, very hard to tear our eyes away from.
Hiking and being outdoors here had a much different feel to me. In California, I feel like I am always rushing towards something, even in the backcountry. In Arizona, it’s much more laid-back.
Don’t get me wrong, though, Cacti are no match for the beauty, shade and smell of a forest. While there will always be a special place in my heart for the unique and incredible beauty I can find here, I cannot wait to see where the rest of the world’s trails lead.
Shannon Faraone is a guest columnist and an avid hiker. She can be reached via e-mail at sf******@***********ws.com.-
