Despite the onset of a bad head-cold, I joined Lani today for a hike at Kings Canyon. I finally got to see the petroglyphs I've heard of and read about in various Arizona hiking guides. I loves me some hist'ry.
We nearly made it to the summit of Wasson Peak, but the early osteoarthritis in my left knee put an end to that endeavor. About a half mile from the top, I made what turned out to be a very wise decision to turn around, and we began the approx. 2-1/2 mile hike back down to the car. The pain increased as we trekked down the mountain, but I made it without stopping. Had we climbed further toward the peak, I'm afraid the pain would have been incapacitating during the descent.
As I said to Lani, it's amazing I can bike 30 miles or more with no joint pain in my knees at all. But give me a hike with some moderately strenuous climbing, and I'm a goner after only 5 miles. And no age-related comments, please. My knees have been this way since I was in my early 20's.
Most of those petrogylphs are about 1500-2000 years old.
Posted by: homer | December 07, 2008 at 04:58 AM
That looks like a marvelous hike. I've gone hiking near there, but not at that exact spot. Next time I'm in Tucson we should try a hike together.
Posted by: DougT | December 07, 2008 at 02:56 PM
Very cool pictures. Take it easy on your knees since you still need them for a long time.
Posted by: John | December 08, 2008 at 03:41 AM
My left knee likes to play games with me from time to time, so I know what its like. Some activity isn't a problem and some just cripples me in no time, good thing I was never an actor or any other job that involved a lot of "knee-work" to get ahead!
Posted by: Kezza | December 08, 2008 at 03:32 PM