One Woman’s Adventure

By Teri Burns

Let me begin by saying I am not great at hiking. I’m slow. I have bad knees and an even worse sense of direction. But I really enjoy the torture that is a good hike.

Recently, I tried my hand at The Sitting Bull Falls Overlook Trail. The first trial was October 3, after all the rain, and the trails were…soggy. And I managed to get off the most direct trail to the Overlook Trail and wound up taking the long way to the loop and back around to the CCC Trail, which leads to the Overlook Trail. I took that trail, but by the time I got to the Overlook Trail, it was too late, and I had to turn back.

I got lost…a lot. There are a few spots on the trail that just don’t look like trails, and I would have never made it back to the parking lot without the rock cairn fairies. Sometimes, those cairns were all that signified the trail direction at all. Everything was overgrown, making it even more difficult. Overall, the circuitous route I took was a little over 6 miles long.

On Sunday, October 18, I tried again. This time, I knew which end of T68 to take to get to my desired location faster. It opened with 287 feet of steep stairs. Not my favorite activity. This is where I wondered if I was too old and out of shape for endeavors like this.

As I mentioned, I am slow, especially on the uphills. I stop a lot—sometimes to take a photo, sometimes to check my new hiking app, sometimes to breathe. Often to breathe. I sit on every good sitting rock along the way and swig a sip of water until my breathing is less of a chore.

I say all of that to assure you of this: if I can do it, almost anybody can.

The stairs were followed by a short stint of level ground, which I quite enjoyed. It was overgrown, but the trail was discernible. Then came 573 feet of steep, rocky trail, and I found myself wondering if the powers that be lied when they labeled this a “moderate” hike.

But I persevered. At this point, I had only gotten off trail once when the trail disappeared into a semi-marshland and reappeared, sort of, on the other side of a stream. It then disappeared again over a stretch of boulders. I sure was glad to see that rock cairn pointing the way over yet another stream.

This stretch of the hike was much different from October 3, which followed heavy rains. Not quite so soggy this time, but I learned my lesson and waterproofed my boots before the Sunday excursion. I did not enjoy the previous adventure’s wet socks and feet.

Then came the top of the mesa, and just like last time, things went awry. This time I had a fully charged phone, thanks to a battery charger I brought with me, and my app was pointing the way forward. Still, every cairn was a welcome sight because there was very little difference between the trail and the other rocky ground surrounding it.

I got off trail for quite a stretch full of agave and mesquite and various other plants looking to stab me. I suggest long pants for this trail.

I knew this time that I was not the only poor soul having trouble with the top of the mesa. The park host told me last time someone else had gotten lost in the same area. Between the cairns and the app, I found my way to the end of the trail. At least, that’s what the app said—and I could see the picnic area down below—but there was nothing telling me I had arrived.

Still, by then it was getting late, and I had to get headed in the direction down. I make significantly better time going down because while my knees complain, my lungs are generally quite happy and I already sort of know which way I am headed. This is a good thing when you have about an hour to the close of the picnic area.

Again, I had to find my way to the stream-crossed, boulder-interrupted trail, but the app helped a lot. I would suggest no one try this trail without a map or an app.

I made it back to the parking lot a little after 4 p.m., when the picnic area closes, and was pleased to see I was not the only straggler.

There are still a few trails to try at Sitting Bull Falls, but those are supposed to be harder and longer. When done correctly, the whole trek to the overlook area is 5.4 miles long. I probably hiked more like 6, but who’s counting?