Ok, so I am determined to catch up with my blogging, and I'm not quite a month behind so you can't throw tomatoes at me just yet. So let me tell you a story... a story that's probably not very engaging, but it has pictures!... which, truth be told, aren't that great either... but the story needs to be told!
It begins as all great epic stories begin... at Tempe Camera. Our two fearless heros - let's call them
George and
Lacey for anonymity's sake - ventured to this remote outpost, hoping to stock up on supplies. You never know what you may face in the dangerous land of Chiricahua... their only hope was to be prepared. After perusing the fine wares, and haggling with the local merchant, they left the store, confident and determined; Lacey armed with her multi-coated UV filter, and George with his circular polarizer, and neutral-density graduated filter. The were armed to the teeth, but would it help? Only time would tell.
They set out on their long journey that evening, upon a
stallion of silver. The night was as black as death, and as clear as George's teenage skin was not. Clear, except for one menacing cloud that loomed ahead like a mountain named "Mount Doom", or something along those lines. The rain that plagued the entire south-west had eeriely missed the expanse of land traversed by the adventurers. Coincidence? Probably. But that didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was getting there in one piece, and getting the rest they needed. Tomorrow would be the real trial, and they would need all the energy they could muster.
They set up camp in the nearby village of Wilcox, just a stone's throw away from their destination (... it would be another half an hour drive to get there, but Lacey had a really strong throwing arm).
Early the next morning, the sun rose. Then, a couple hours later, the daring duo donned their adventurewear and set out to meet the day head-on. They drove and drove and drove, for what seemed like hours, until George realized his watch battery had died. The parched grass and barren landscape was hardly motivation for the task at hand, but they knew there was no turning back.
The small hills in the distance grew gradually into tall rock faces, daring the pair to enter. The sentry at the gates waived them through, accepting a small bribe in exchange for her silence. They drove deeper into the wilderness, unaware of what awaited, but with a vague sense of anticipation.
Just past the boundaries of the land, the two stopped at a small cabin, tucked away beside the rock and trees. A wise mage inside sent George and Lacey along their way with directions for safe passage to the peak, and her good blessing.
Slowly, they traversed upward, towards the tall, unwieldy spires teetering ahead. What would they find around the next corner, they thought to themselves. Monsters? Gold? Squirrels?
The penultimate point of Chiricahua National Monument appeared unannounced, but not unwelcomed. As they made their way down the trail, the majesty and queerness of the place became apparent. This is the scene that they witnessed at Masai Point.
