Stranded on the Strip

I came to Las Vegas to renew my driver's license.  After a certain age, you  have to do so in person.   I thought a couple of days, but eleven have already passed, and I am still waiting for the document.  It's not bad.  There are worse places then Vegas to be stranded.  I don't mind the 43 degree (110F) heat.  It is certainly better than the freezing air-conditioned interiors.

However, there are alternatives to the heat.  Less than an hour's drive from the city, the road climbs to 2,000 meters, the peaks above are still snowy, and the temperature drops below 30 (C).  From there, a trail leads higher and cooler.  The smell of the pine forest disconnects me from the glittering city, and replaces it with a relaxed contemplative mood.  A few kilometers further up, we encounter a small bubbly stream.  The stream is playful, and as the canyon narrows, it asks us to hop over it back and forth from one bank to the other.  Wearing Teva sandals, a slight undershoot adds to the fun by cooling my feet.  Soon we reach a miniature waterfall.  The shady canyon and the sound of splashing water provide a perfect setting for breakfast.  A few drops of rain, signal that it is time to return to the heat.

Product review:
Thanks to a recommendation from my friend Danny Edelshtein, I loaded an application called
"Mapy.cz"   The application added to the fun by providing an accurate topo map of the trail, a track of what we already covered, as well as some statistics.  I like it.