March 20, 1999 - It has been a long time since I cussed myself out, but today I did a good job. Well I guess I should start from the beginning. The trail into Long Canyon was gorgeous. After the hot, dry part at the onset, the jaunt through the forest was just beautiful. I have to admit, I felt a little nervous only because I was all alone and there were all sorts of critters scrambling through the bushes. Mostly birds and lizards, but at one point I swear I heard something larger. Ah well. I didn't see it and it didn't bother me. Fresh cat prints let me know that something prowled these forests at night but in the mid-daylight I felt fairly secure.

The last part of the hike through the deep canyon and ponderosa pines was incredible. I scrambled up the red-rock cliff side and found an old set of ruins where I could eat my lunch and enjoy the view. So far so good. The crazy part started when I reached the back of the canyon. I climbed up the initial rock ledge that blocked the end of the trail. Not too bad. I found a faint trail that wound around the rocks and up the cliffs. It got narrower and narrower until it disappeared. I watched a couple that had arrived before me carefully pick their way up the hillside which looked for all the world like sand or silt with sliding rocks and cacti. If they could do it, so could I, or so I thought.

I made it about 100 yards up the hill when I noticed that every rock I stepped on was sliding and me with it. I got on all fours and looked back over the spectacular view wondering if a cell phone would have proven useful at this point. Everyone told me I should have a cell phone in the woods. "Yeah right," I thought to myself while avoiding the cactus spikes I almost grabbed onto. "Who would I call up here anyway?" The absurdity made me laugh. I took a deep breath and gingerly began a controlled slide down the hill, all the while giving myself a litany on caution. Once I reached a stable ledges, I laid down and caught my breath. The walk back on the flat well-groomed trail was a piece of cake and I swore to myself that I'd think twice before climbing back here again!