In the land of Red Rocks II

After such a wonderful start of my hiking adventure in Sedona the previous day I decided to go with the flow and attack the highest peak - the Wilson Mountain. Rated as a hard trek this 11 mile round trip has 2500+ feet of elevation change (~770m) and presents one of the nicest challenges to hike. It is named after an old Arkansas bear hunter known as Richard Wilson, who was mauled by a bear here in the 1880's. Wilson was a farm hand for the famous Thompson Family (formerly of Indian Gardens) and was asked to watch over the family, while the patriarch Jim Thompson, was attending court in nearby Prescott, Arizona. When he failed to show up after 8 days, his body was later found in a big canyon just below present day  Midgley Bridge. Both the canyon he was found in, and the mountain above, now honor his name as Wilson Canyon and Wilson Mountain respectively.
At the top there is rewarding view that stretches over hundreds of square miles of scenic canyon country and include Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Coffee Pot Rock, Capitol Butte, Sterling Canyon and the Verde Valley. Sounds about like something I would like to hike!

Red and green come hand in hand in Sedona.

Sunrise over the red rocks, breathtaking and majestic red mountains.

On the trail to the Mt Wilson, Steamboat Rock in the background.

I started the day early, anxious to be at the trail head at the sunrise. It was quite beautiful to be driving out of my Sacred Rocks location while the starts were slowly disappearing, their light being overtaken by first rays of the rising sun. It was a brisk, almost frosty morning with a strong promise of a clear weather. Midgley Bridge  was very quiet and peaceful. There was no single car parked when I arrived first thing in the morning. I paid the entrance fee in the machine by picnic area and undisturbed by anyone started my hike up. 

11 mile round trip to Mt Wilson peak, the highest mountain top around Sedona.

Soon after leaving the trail-head the trail starts climbing up.

Hiking up, there were sections of the trail covered with opuntia cactuses, heavy from rich purple fruits. I was not aware that the fruits of most prickly pears are edible. They are also sold in stores under the name "tuna". Prickly pear branches (the pads) are also cooked and eaten as a vegetable. They, too, are sold in stores under the name "Nopalito." Because of the glochids, great care is required when harvesting or preparing prickly pear cactus.

Fruited prickly pear of the BEAVERTAIL CACTUS.

Prickley pear cactus fruit.

 Glochids are often difficult to see and more difficult to remove, once lodged in the skin. Both fruits and pads of the prickly pear cactus are rich in slowly absorbed soluble fibers that may help keep blood sugar stable. Now I knew I wasn't going to die of starvation on this mountain!

Hiking in and around the Oak Creek Canyon and Wilson Canyon is like following in the steps of pioneer Wilson who tracked a wounded Grizzly and was then promptly killed by the bear. Not a happy story but it is the memory of those who had been here before us that can make a trip like that enriched with historical and cultural context.

First overlook on the way to Mt Wilson.

Impressive Mt Wilson, view from the first bench.

Alone on the trail, undisturbed by the "locals", both human and nature in perfect harmony...

Going up the mountain never disturbs me, no matter how challenging. After approximately 3 hrs I finally met some people on my way. A couple of boys school age were coming DOWN from the mountain. The next opening from a curve revealed their parents following the boys down the trail. Medium size backpacks stuffed, big smiles on their faces, turns out they spent the night on the mountain camping. Undisturbed by anyone. How cool is that! What a way to take your children, hike them through the mountains and make them camp on the mountain top! Thumbs up!

The couple were French people visiting, we stopped and had a small talk as the woman noticed I was wearing  French hiking brand and was curious to know if I was French too. (Negative answer there.)

Views of Munds Canyon, the highest peak in Arizona - Humphreys Peak12,633ft.

Humphreys Peak not quite from the top of Mt Wilson.

They confirmed there was nobody else on the mountain so I knew instantaneously - wooohooo I have all the mountain to myself! I practically run up, anxious to get to see the views and enjoy all the wilderness to myself. 

It was as spectacular as promised. With the clear weather and strong sun warming the air to unexpectedly hot levels it was like a mini paradise. I went around the large flat mountain peak, it take some 45 minutest to hike from one end to another, and there is a pine forest in between with some muddy flat land making it somewhat more challenging to navigate (as the trail stops once you have reached the top). 

I took all my time to enjoy being on the "top of the world" and even managed to squeeze in some small stretching session.

Another side view from the top of Mt Wilson.

Coming down from the mountain was of course way less exciting. Passed around 8 late hikers making it to the top around lunch time. Overheard some dudes talking about wanting to eat cookies (LOL) - say what? 

As a souvenir I collected 8 beautiful pine cones with spikes. Quite an interesting variety of pine trees and unusual for me fact that even pine cones can have spikes in the American desert.

Back at the trail head the parking lot was packed with cars and with a great relief that I did not have to deal with any of these people I gracefully undressed my hiking gear and started my car back to Sedona town for a well deserved meal..