The Winter Solstice

Happy longest night of the year!  It's our anniversary, as well.  Today marks 34 years of wedded bliss.  The weather in Tucson warmed up enough for us to get out for a hike.  It was a good hike. 

Today's journey started with the Seven Rocks trail, to the drainage ditch trail, right on Yetman, then left on the trail that goes by Preacher Hill.  There's a way back that we were looking for so that we don't have to come down a really steep section.  Here is the drainage ditch trail.

After the right turn and the left that goes by Preacher Hill, one walks up the very steep bit until this cairn.  It's in the middle of the center.  One goes left here.

See the diagonal trail going from the right to the left, gaining elevation?  That's what we don't like going down.  Too steep and to many loose rocks.

This is a cool shot of the saguaro.  The cloud behind him looks like a halo.

Golden Gate and Bren Peak.

So, we did find the alternative route back to the house, I took zero photos of it.  We both know where it starts, so we can do it again.  Quite often on has to walk a trail in reverse to find the start.

It was a good day.  My feet hurt.  However, my hip did not hurt.  I'm hoping the PT I'm doing every night without fail will put an end to the hip suffering.