Shortest distanced trail … this trail is no joke.

I was on a week-long journey thru northern Arizona when a friend drove up to hike Mt. Elden with me. We started too late (9:30AM) and the heat was draining. Another factor for me could have been hiking the Grand Canyon the day before … certainly didn't have fresh legs.

I felt the hike took longer than it should have … not a fan of stepping up the large boulders … while altitude was a factor, only minor. Thankfully, as we were rising the heat didn't get worse but stayed the same and we had some shade from the trees.

Lesson learned on the start of the day in August … not a trail I'll rush back to.