I arose shortly after sunrise and proceeded along the trail, which was mostly snow-covered, as it switchbacked all the way down to the upper reaches of Sunnyside Canyon. A thin, mountain stream fed by the melting snow was running through strips of dense green grass, occasionally forming small, clear pools as it widened. A great place to have a break and stock up on water. There were no animal sightings despite the deer tracks and set of bear prints I saw in the snow. The birdlife was a different story. Walking in the lower part of the canyon, hawks and crows glided above me, doves sat in the branches as other avian forest dwellers darted from tree to tree, and quail scurried across the tread in front of me then dashed into the undergrowth. While I was enjoying the company of these feathered friends, the first people I'd actually met on the AZT appeared. It was a group of senior citizens who had started their day hike at the mouth of Sunnyside Canyon, hoping to partake of its delights. A few Hellos and How are Yous were exchanged before they passed.
The landscape changed dramatically as I entered Canelo Hills East. The forested slopes of Miller Peak and the shade of the canyon were replaced by scattered trees offering shady patches in Scotia Canyon, which has a nice camp on the opposite side of the creek. Further on, tree cover is much more sparse, a combination of juniper, mesquite brush and scrub dotting the hills. Water management was an issue, especially since I was still unable to drink as much as I should have. As a consequence, I became slightly dehydrated as the heat of midday grew more intense. Some of the back country trail was on hard dirt roads that punished my tender feet. Trying to make it to Flower Tank so I could camp near water, I conked out on a high point, not taking another step. A flat place under a larger than average juniper was very inviting. I'd come to the realization that the Arizona Trail was proving to be much tougher than I had expected. Dealing with the solitude and mental/physical challenges was wearing on me already. I'd been under the false assumption that I'd just jump back into trail life and start pounding out thirty-mile days when that simply was not the case. I'm still not eating much either. Where's my appetite?
Photo1: Agave Drifts
Photo 2: Toward Sunnyside Canyon
Photo 3: Scotia Canyon Creek
Photo 4: Canelo Hills East
Distance Hiked: 25.2 Miles
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