Page 24 - Life's Outtakes 11

us decided to make a day of it on the

Saturday before Labor Day. I

checked all my equipment the night

before and found that my water

purification pump had quit working

since I last used it. That left no

option but to carry extra water.

We got up at five o’clock and

drove to the trailhead, arriving just

before seven. We stretched, used the

restroom, and headed on our way.

The first part of the climb was quite

strenuous, with switchbacks out of

the parking lot up into the canyon.

This soon turned into an easier

upward trail.