November, 4, 2019, Cottonwood-
When I was a child, “Indian Summer” was the name given to that part of Autumn which featured warm days and cool nights. It was usually done by Halloween. This year, October was a mixed bag. Some days were mildly warm; others were a bit nippy. There was no “Augtober”, at least around here.
November has usually been a guarantor of frost. So far this month, we’ve had what usually comes earlier. It’s been a delayed “Indian Summer” and is likely to continue as such, until after Veteran’s Day. No harm, no foul, though. A major wedding is coming up, in my circle of friends, and besides, I have a distance trail that I’d like to complete by Thanksgiving.
Thus, today being a non-work day, I found and hiked a small, remote segment of Limekiln Trail, between a graded dirt road named for one Bill Grey and the point where I left off last time, at the base of a quartz-laden hill. This would be a 3-miler, including the rough section of terrain between the road and Sheepshead Canyon’s southern tip. A local man told me he didn’t think my Hyundai would handle Bill Grey Road, but it is flat and graded. I had no problems reaching the trailhead.
Here is where I found Limekiln’s spur trail.
This is what the bulk of the trail featured, as a backdrop.
I crossed one wash and two mild inclines-nothing too difficult, on this rather bright day.
The next segment will be 4 miles, each way, from Bill Grey Road to a point along Highway 89-A near Deer Pass Ranch, at Sedona’s southern edge. That will feature a transition from desert scrub to the promontories that signal one is in Red Rock country.
It can wait until the air is just a tad cooler. For now, I’ll just enjoy my brisket sandwich and potato salad at Colt Cafe.
What wonderful pictures. I’m glad you had a good hike with great scenary.
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Thank you for your kind words!
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Sounds like a fun hike! We have not had an Indian Summer… it looks like we are headed straight into winter!! Had awful snow, sleet, freezing rain on Halloween and it hasn’t been pleasant since (not counting the 4 hours of sun today but it was still cold out!)
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I’ve read about the trials ant tribulations of much of the Midwest, since mid-October. Stay safe, through what Mother Nature has yet to dish out.
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I haven’t heard the phrase “indian summer” in years!
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