The 0300 weather check revealed a mostly hidden moon and a strong wind, so I went back to sleep. Woke at the normal time (0600) to clear and calm skies. So, forecast aside, I had to do something.

The unending question.

I managed to get started hiking at 0800, on top of Oak Creek Canyon rim an hour later. The AB Young trail is a great piece of work, Grand Canyon-like sustained steepness (2k in 2 miles). Clouds began appearing, small and light as I headed off on ~4 miles of dirt roads across the top of the rim. By the end of those four miles I could see west, and the undeniable thick gray cumulus clouds building in waves.

Game over.

While canyoneering it’s not the weather you can see, it’s that which builds while you’re deep and out of sight beyond the horizon. It’s always a hard call, ambition versus risk. I went back and forth for a minute or two, sitting eating jerky and looking at the map. The choice to go back felt good, even better when it began to snow minutes later. So, I took the leisurely route back to the trail, exploring the woods. Even through the snow squalls the birds were feeling spring. Grass sprouting in the clearings, and one Abert’s Squirrel with very extravagant ear tufts. Overall, not a bad five hour training hike.