Joy of the Day, Day 20: Hike and Desert Treasure

We love to hike in the desert, and we fit a few great ones in before it became more and more difficult, and then ultimately prohibited, to park anywhere near our usual trailheads. Since we arrived here over a month ago, the weather has been unseasonably mild, but the forecast for the second half of this week predicts temperatures of 100 and above—too hot to hike. So, knowing that our time here is coming to an end, and spotting a good weather window this morning, Stephen and I decided to execute on a premeditated plan to bike to our hike. After devoting a good bit of time and elbow grease to the the project, Stephen was able to get three bikes repaired and ready, and off we went—Stephen, Garner and I.

We’ve hiked the Bear Creek Trail system often over the years, but it offers such an expansive web of terrain that I’m not sure we’ve ever done it the same way twice. Today we were in for just a short loop, having worked hard to get to the park to begin with, so decided to climb to the top of the ridge to the right of the trail and hike up high. Garner knew the path and was our leader, having done a similar route with Braden a few weeks before. It felt so good to climb, to be in the open with the little mountain ridge all to ourselves, on a perfect, cloudless day in the desert.

Hikes are always part treasure-hunt for me. When something special reveals itself along my path—maybe a heart-shaped rock or special shell—it endows my walk with purpose, serving as both token and reward for having taken the exact right step at the exact right moment.

Different hikes yield different gems. Today, this tiny treasure caught my eye and stopped me in my tracks—bright purple blooms no bigger than my pinky finger nail, growing impossibly out of a crack in the hot, sandy rock. I doubt that anyone in the whole world has ever given it the slightest notice, but for me, today, eyes peeled for treasure as I picked my route along the desert ridge, the flower signaled an affirmation sweet and clear: You can do hard things!

Today, our hike and this tiny flower are my joy. #joyinplace