After spending an extra hour of driving in Google Maps hell, I found the correct trailhead directions and arrived at the empty parking lot. I checked my tires for flats and hoped the RAV4 would start again after what I may not have avoided on the road surface.

I can hear coyotes yipping in the distance. I’m alone. I have little protection from critters with me as I’ve flown into the Phoenix area on vacation.

Between the adventure to the trailhead and only 4 days for this 6-Pack, I put my fear aside and load up my pack with the 10 Essentials as I’ll surely be out here a while if something goes sideways.

I pick up a few stones and carry them in my hands, hoping my throwing arm works if those coyotes decide to check me out.

Once I’m hoofing it up the beautiful dessert hills I find myself back in my happy place. It’s one of the cooler days of the year but the sun is shining and air is calm so I’m soon layering down and cruising along quite comfortably on a well-defined trail that has decent switchbacks and also plenty of flat stretches to recover on.

With about a quarter of the distance to go, the mostly gravel path changes to clambering over, up and around and much route finding, with a few rock cairns to assure me I’m on the right route.

I reach the summit area and a gorgeous wall of monstrous quartz boulders impedes any advancement – add in a few scary drop-offs nearby to my fear of heights and this is as far as I’m going. I take a selfie of me and the boulders, resigned to “oh well at least I didn’t give up at the trailhead”.

I take a walk around and discover a doable scramble to the summit! Shaking and a bit weak from the fear I crawl up and within moments I’m at the tippy-top and totally amazed at myself! The conditions are impeccable – not a lick of wind, plus full sun, expansive views for miles and these incredible, massive quartz boulders. Which by the way are very cold on the buttocks!

I found the summit register (which could use some blank pages, if anyone is going up) and signed it with a very heartfelt message.

I took it slow on the way down from the summit and the following rough zone, and made it back to the parking lot with the only animal encounters being a few small lizards and some black beetles with orange trim.

Overall a great hike and I thank Social Hiker for including it as an option on the 6-Pack, but would recommend including a well-trodden buddy or two to maximize the adventure.