I like rain. Love listening to it patter on my roof. When I lived in Wisconsin, I would go out on my porch to watch the lightning, enjoy the thunder, and listen to the distant tornado sirens. Unlike most Phoenicians, I don’t fear driving in wet weather. (I’ve seen, multiple times, large pickup trucks slow down for “puddles” that, I am not kidding, were obviously a half inch deep.) 🙄
But, unlike some folks, I don’t look forward to actually hiking in it. Instead, I endure it. Plus, I had not hiked in two weeks, so there was no way I was backing out. Even though Payson was getting blasted, Prescott looked like it might be clearing. So, it was on.
I’d been over this territory twice before, once with prescottstyle, but had yet to find a relatively un-stabby route across the ridge between FR 710 and Board Creek. This time, I hit pay dirt.
Or mud, as it were. Only problem was that by the time I got to where I wanted to start the bushwhack, I was having a hard time seeing. Between the rain and/or fog on my glasses, or the rain washing stinging sweat into my eyes, it was not fun. (Long story, but it reminded me of an eye injury I sustained while in the Army.) 👁
Plus the Dollar Store rain “coat”, shredded by the grab & stabs, was getting under foot, amost tripping me on several occasions. I thought about ditching the garbage bag coat, but having already sacrificed my cheapo camera to the rain, did not want to do the same to my iPhone. So, I kept the raggedy bag on.
It’s wierd, but the rocks are actually slipperier dry than wet. I was hoping to check out some whazzits, but by the time I got to the cabin/car ruins, I was fed up — I’d throughly carpet-bombed Board Creek with F-bombs — so I concentrated on getting back to the trailhead as quick as possible, forgoing not only breaks, but also a second bottle of water. (For various reasons, I carry bottled water in my pack.) 🤬
As I emerged from the woods, a cop drove by. I’m surprised he didn’t stop to see if I was up to no good, because I sure looked like hell. I was shaking. Not the real hard shaking, but the kind where you feel the muscles — or, in my case, fat — on your chest quiver. It was two hours, and two large cappuccinos, before I felt normal again.
Distance: 5.22 mi.
AEG: 1,138 ft.
Time: 2h 30m
Hiking Video
Board Creek Loop, Bradshaw Mountains from Preston McMurry on Vimeo.
