I had a hiking nemesis. On December 3, 2018, the Flatiron became my first one. I had veered off the route then, and just below the ridgeline I saw no easy way up and I turned around. I was frustrated and exhausted, and I had never given up on a trail before. I've been lost before, but I had always figured it out and reached my destination. I vowed to myself to try again someday. After a year of doing more long and challenging hikes, I felt ready to defeat this towering piece of volcanic rock.
I returned on February 1, 2020, and conquered my jagged adversary. It was hard, but it was a Saturday, and I followed others right up the rocky gully. The mile of bouldering and rock climbing was tiring but not too difficult, and I climbed up on to the ridgeline just before noon. Then it was an easy stroll out to the edge of the Flatiron. After resting for an hour I then felt ambitious, and decided to conquer Superstition Peak 5024 which rose up about a quarter mile away. It was there so I decided to do a 2 for 1 hike.
The hike up to Superstition Peak 5024 was much more difficult than I had imagined. I was scrambling over and under boulders, and attempting to dodge cacti all the way to the summit. I was beat up again, but at the summit, I felt great, because I had not only defeated my hiking nemesis, I had vanquished another peak.
Now I just need to vanquish my OCD. That's tougher than any mountain. It is my adversary too, and I'll keep trying just like with the Flatiron.
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| The Siphon Draw |
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| The Flatiron |
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| Me at the edge of the Flatiron. |
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| Superstition Peak 5024 |
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| The Flatiron |
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| The Flatiron |
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| The view from Superstition Peak 5024 |
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| The view from Superstition Peak 5024 |
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| The view from Superstition Peak 5024 |
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| The view from Superstition Peak 5024 |
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| The view from Superstition Peak 5024 |
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| The siphon Draw and the Flatiron on the horizon. |
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