Surviving Seven Falls (Waterfalls, that is!) - April 13, 2019
The day started out normal enough – or as normal as we get. Laur had a two hour Samaritans meeting in the morning. (He is a treasurer for the “Sams”. Mom, quit laughing.) I did my little jog-walk (supposed to improve mood) and then some Body Pump (for bone density.)
Since we aren’t going to be able to be Volunteer Patrollers in the Santa Catalina mountains – we are Canadians and, as it turns out, can’t be covered by National Forest Services insurance – we decided that Monday was as good as any day to return our uniforms and our shiny badges.
And, oh heck, since we were going to be in Sabino Canyon and hadn’t hiked Seven Falls this year, might as well enjoy a hike. I suggested to Laur that he bring a lighter backpack since we wouldn’t need all our usual gear – this being a well-travelled trek. (Mistake #1.)
As we drove into town, we heard it was going to be over 90F in Tucson and Laur said, “Are you sure you want to go for a hike?!” And I replied from the air-conditioned car, “It would be ridiculous to go to Sabino Canyon and not hike!” (Mistake #2.)
And then we arrived and got out of the car and got blasted by the noon-time full sun. Wow! We returned our uniforms, chatted with some (formerly) fellow Sabino Canyon Volunteer Patrollers, and hit the road. The sand road. No wind, no shade, full sun, and HOT!
Laur had asked if I wanted to buy a shuttle ticket – it would cut 4 miles off our hike. And from the comfort of our car I said, “That would mean our hike would only be 4 miles long. What’s the point of that?!” (Mistake # 3, if you’re counting.)
By the time we reached the real start of our Seven Falls hike – the spot the air-conditioned shuttle would have dropped us - I was having seriously reservations about my ability to do this. Somehow I had the idea that this hike had lots of shade and there would be a gentle cool breeze. There was neither of those things.
I had also forgotten that there was a lot of going up and then going down, and going up and going down. Lots of boulders to climb. Lots of stream crossings – hopping across on rocks. Normally I do not like stream crossings – my balance is not great and those wiggly rocks freak me out. But this time I was glad for it. At every crossing we soaked our hats and I splashed water over myself.
Normally Laur is the one who is happy to call it at day when we’ve bitten off more that we can chew, but today he was like a dog with a bone. Absolutely determined to see those Seven Falls before we returned to Canada. He’d use encouraging phrases like “It’s just around the corner!” and “We’ve hiked in hotter weather than this!”
We finally got to a point where we could view the Seven Falls – and they are glorious – but there was no shade even there. We wedged ourselves into a cliff of sorts and ate our lunch of sorts. I say that because our water was hot, our sandwiches had almost liquefied, our granola bars – we had to pour them into our mouths, and our tangerines seemed dehydrated.
Said I to Laur, “I really need to lather up with sunscreen for the trip back.” We had both lathered up at the trailer for the first park of the hike. Laur said, “Do you have the sunscreen?” Remember how I encouraged Laur to bring a smaller pack? The sunscreen was in the larger pack. Gah!
The hike out of Seven Falls did go faster that the hike into it and when we reached a water tap located at the last air-conditioned shuttle stop, at the real start of this hike, we dumped out the remainder of our hot water and replaced it with cold. Not only that, I poured water on my heard and neck, down my front and down my back.
What I did not take into consideration is that our cell phone was in my mesh fanny-pack and I was dousing it too. (Mistake #4. Thankfully it survived a waterfall of its own.) An empty, air-conditioned shuttle bus drove by – the driver smiled and waved. We did not have tickets so could not board – and I so would have at this point.
I could have kissed the car by the time we reached it – but would have burnt my mouth off. Thankfully our Hyundai Santa Fe has great air-conditioning – unlike our old caddie – so we were able to cool off very quickly. I said I would kiss our trailer when we got home, but I was too tired to pucker. Supper was whatever I could find to microwave.
*****
It’s OK to make mistakes. That is how we learn, right?! Except I NEVER LEARN! Two years ago some friends invited Laur and me to join them for a noon time 2 mile hike in the Tucson mountains. No shade, lots of up and down, blazing hot, no breeze. Sound familiar? At the half way point – meaning it was the same distance to retreat or carry on – I said, “I think I’m going to throw up…”
We found a little shade. I rested. I was able to drink some more water and eat some food. This matters, because if you start throwing up – it’s time to call the rescue-copter. You are moving from heat exhaustion to heat stroke.
We got back to the car and cranked up the AC. We had made plans to go out for lunch and when we arrived at our Mexican food destination, I made a beeline for the washroom where I truly soaked my head.
Our tacos arrived and I immediately, as always, doused them with hot sauce. Forgetting that this was authentic Mexican hot sauce – not the stuff you get at Taco Bell. I proceeded to burn my insides as well as my outsides.
Our Pastor has a good sense of humor about Arizona weather. He says, “In the winter, it’s so beautiful, heaven doesn’t interest you. In the summer, it’s so hot, hell doesn’t scare you!”
Since we aren’t going to be able to be Volunteer Patrollers in the Santa Catalina mountains – we are Canadians and, as it turns out, can’t be covered by National Forest Services insurance – we decided that Monday was as good as any day to return our uniforms and our shiny badges.
And, oh heck, since we were going to be in Sabino Canyon and hadn’t hiked Seven Falls this year, might as well enjoy a hike. I suggested to Laur that he bring a lighter backpack since we wouldn’t need all our usual gear – this being a well-travelled trek. (Mistake #1.)
As we drove into town, we heard it was going to be over 90F in Tucson and Laur said, “Are you sure you want to go for a hike?!” And I replied from the air-conditioned car, “It would be ridiculous to go to Sabino Canyon and not hike!” (Mistake #2.)
And then we arrived and got out of the car and got blasted by the noon-time full sun. Wow! We returned our uniforms, chatted with some (formerly) fellow Sabino Canyon Volunteer Patrollers, and hit the road. The sand road. No wind, no shade, full sun, and HOT!
Laur had asked if I wanted to buy a shuttle ticket – it would cut 4 miles off our hike. And from the comfort of our car I said, “That would mean our hike would only be 4 miles long. What’s the point of that?!” (Mistake # 3, if you’re counting.)
By the time we reached the real start of our Seven Falls hike – the spot the air-conditioned shuttle would have dropped us - I was having seriously reservations about my ability to do this. Somehow I had the idea that this hike had lots of shade and there would be a gentle cool breeze. There was neither of those things.
I had also forgotten that there was a lot of going up and then going down, and going up and going down. Lots of boulders to climb. Lots of stream crossings – hopping across on rocks. Normally I do not like stream crossings – my balance is not great and those wiggly rocks freak me out. But this time I was glad for it. At every crossing we soaked our hats and I splashed water over myself.
Normally Laur is the one who is happy to call it at day when we’ve bitten off more that we can chew, but today he was like a dog with a bone. Absolutely determined to see those Seven Falls before we returned to Canada. He’d use encouraging phrases like “It’s just around the corner!” and “We’ve hiked in hotter weather than this!”
We finally got to a point where we could view the Seven Falls – and they are glorious – but there was no shade even there. We wedged ourselves into a cliff of sorts and ate our lunch of sorts. I say that because our water was hot, our sandwiches had almost liquefied, our granola bars – we had to pour them into our mouths, and our tangerines seemed dehydrated.
Said I to Laur, “I really need to lather up with sunscreen for the trip back.” We had both lathered up at the trailer for the first park of the hike. Laur said, “Do you have the sunscreen?” Remember how I encouraged Laur to bring a smaller pack? The sunscreen was in the larger pack. Gah!
The hike out of Seven Falls did go faster that the hike into it and when we reached a water tap located at the last air-conditioned shuttle stop, at the real start of this hike, we dumped out the remainder of our hot water and replaced it with cold. Not only that, I poured water on my heard and neck, down my front and down my back.
What I did not take into consideration is that our cell phone was in my mesh fanny-pack and I was dousing it too. (Mistake #4. Thankfully it survived a waterfall of its own.) An empty, air-conditioned shuttle bus drove by – the driver smiled and waved. We did not have tickets so could not board – and I so would have at this point.
I could have kissed the car by the time we reached it – but would have burnt my mouth off. Thankfully our Hyundai Santa Fe has great air-conditioning – unlike our old caddie – so we were able to cool off very quickly. I said I would kiss our trailer when we got home, but I was too tired to pucker. Supper was whatever I could find to microwave.
*****
It’s OK to make mistakes. That is how we learn, right?! Except I NEVER LEARN! Two years ago some friends invited Laur and me to join them for a noon time 2 mile hike in the Tucson mountains. No shade, lots of up and down, blazing hot, no breeze. Sound familiar? At the half way point – meaning it was the same distance to retreat or carry on – I said, “I think I’m going to throw up…”
We found a little shade. I rested. I was able to drink some more water and eat some food. This matters, because if you start throwing up – it’s time to call the rescue-copter. You are moving from heat exhaustion to heat stroke.
We got back to the car and cranked up the AC. We had made plans to go out for lunch and when we arrived at our Mexican food destination, I made a beeline for the washroom where I truly soaked my head.
Our tacos arrived and I immediately, as always, doused them with hot sauce. Forgetting that this was authentic Mexican hot sauce – not the stuff you get at Taco Bell. I proceeded to burn my insides as well as my outsides.
Our Pastor has a good sense of humor about Arizona weather. He says, “In the winter, it’s so beautiful, heaven doesn’t interest you. In the summer, it’s so hot, hell doesn’t scare you!”