Not only was it cold last night, but the wind was strong and gusty, so I didn't get much sleep. I awake to find that my Platypus container with two liters of water turned over during the night in the wind storm and every last drop drained out through the top. Geez Louise. You would think I would have secured it better. Well, I guess it's candy bars for breakfast for me. I have one quart of Gatorade left, so I shouldn't have any problems getting back to Desert View. I'm going to climb to the top of the ridge next to my campsite and go back by a different route than I came. The Comanche Point saddle is in full view. This climb is a little challenging at times and picking the right angle up is tricky, but in about fifteen minutes I reach the top.
The walking is very easy on top the ridge. I had previously set a waypoint on my GPS at the five-mile trail junction cairn and head for that. As a practical matter though, heading due south and staying on top the ridge until you reach the road will work fine. I turn right at the trail junction cairn and head back towards Desert View.
I only find a couple of blooming flowers on the way back.
This old road is in very bad shape in quite a few places.
I meet a couple out for a day hike who were told they could reach the River and see a waterfall by taking this trail. They are very disappointed when I tell them they have gotten some bad advice. In about two hours, I reach the trail junction and start up the switchbacks.
Part way up the switchbacks, the Desert View Watchtower comes into view. Mary Jane Colter picked a great spot for her tower as the views from it looking down Tanner Canyon are magnificent.
Cedar Mountain is slowly fading into the distance behind me. On my hike to Cape Solitude a couple of years ago, I could clearly see the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff from here, but the strong wind today has been blowing up a lot of dust and obscuring the view. A few more switchbacks and I reach my parked car.
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