Mount Ajo - Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument

On November 6th, I hiked to the summit of Mount Ajo in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. It is the tallest mountain in the National Park, located in the Ajo Range. It is climbed via an unmaintained trail, and often it is hard to follow. At the summit the view is fantastic. On the eastern side is the  Tohono O'dham Reservation, and to the south are the mountains of Mexico. Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was established to protect the organ pipe cactus, which is primarily a tropical species. The trail is 8 miles round trip.

Even though I had the route downloaded to my cell phone, I lost the trail on the way down. I hate it when the trail fades away to nothing, especially when it's very close to sunset. Fortunately, I could see my GPS location on my phone, and that I was very close to the correct route. There and then, I began hiking cross country to find it, but that was rough because of all spiny plants, so I turned around and retraced my path back to the last rock cairn. I tried the path twice more, and same as before it faded away. I began to worry that I wouldn't find the route before dark. It was so frustrating. Why did a well worn trail suddenly vanish among the saguaro and cholla? I had 1G service on my phone so I texted my good friend Mike, whom I had told where I was going, and said I was lost. I felt more secure now that Mike knew I was lost. But I knew I would not need to be rescued, because I was well prepared. For the fourth time, I tried the trail and this time closely watched my location on the phone as I slowly traced the route. There it was, a faint left fork I hadn't noticed before. Then soon I saw the the National Park sign for Bull Pasture, and I positively knew I was on the right trail. The anxiety rapidly drained from my body. It was then, that I noticed that the mountains had turned crimson with the setting sun, and I was no longer in hurry to reach my car. Frequently, I stopped to photograph Mount Ajo, which further delayed my hike. However, I was close to my car, and I made it back shortly after sundown.

How does this anxiety differ from OCD anxiety? Losing the trail anxiety is easier to handle and solve. The intense anxiety caused by OCD is more frightening, and sometimes I try to solve it the wrong way, and then it takes longer for the anxiety to go away. I need to manage my OCD like a lost trail, and stay on the right path.

Me on the 4,808 foot summit.

On the summit.

Mount Ajo

Mount Ajo

Mount Ajo

The Route