I rubbed my cold hands together as shooting stars traced across the Arizona dawn. The treasure hunt has brought me to the foot of Arizona’s tallest peak – Humphreys. Maybe it’s the Colorado in me because there was no way I was going to leave Arizona without reaching the summit.
Driving west toward Flagstaff, dark clouds and flashes of lightning at the summit give Humphreys the look of Mount Olympus. Standing just over 12,500 feet, Humphrey’s towers above the rolling desert. At the trailhead, a sign explains that this mountain is sacred for 13 tribes of the Southwest. The mountain is known to some as the rain-heart-center of the world. It’s easy to see why. The mountainside is covered with rainforest.
As light seeps in through the conifers, the silence of the early morning isn’t just broken – it’s forgotten. Life in its many forms caws, scratches and skitters through the trees. An occasional limb snapping or rock rolling down the mountain are enough to cause surprise. The steep trail is covered in branching roots that look like the veins of the Earth, and broken rocks jut from the ground, making each step forward precarious and challenging.
The Humphreys Peak Trail is popular. Easy access from the Arizona Snowbowl parking lots provides the most direct path to the summit. The popularity of the trail made it no surprise for me to encounter other mountaineers and their pets. As I charged up the mountain, I came around a corner and saw in the distance a young couple and two prancing dogs. When I got closer, I realized the dogs were actually two baby kids. No, not children. They were goats! The two spotted goats seemed perfectly at ease on the steep mountain.
While it’s no chest of gold coins, I began to see how amazing a couple of pet goats could be. They’ll eat anything on the side of the trail, follow along without a leash on only minimal training, and, when they get a little older, they produce milk. I won’t be adopting any of my own kids too soon. I’m still wondering if a baby goat can attract the ladies’ attention the same way a puppy can?
That was certainly a question I had when I got off the mountain and into town. Nestled into the hills around Humphreys Peak is Flagstaff. The scene downtown has no shortage of people or fine drinking establishments. Local breweries such as Mother Road Brewing Co. and Flagstaff Brewing Co. are paired nicely with the talented local music scene.
A quick peek at a bulletin board on the street reminds me of Durango. Colorful fliers filled the board with upcoming and past music shows, yoga classes, massage advertisements and a plea for someone’s beloved lost pet. The enchanting and simple architecture downtown gives Flagstaff a comfortable vibe, and while this isn’t quite home, its alluring charm has made sure I’ll return.
With my treasure hunting season coming to a close, I’ve come to an interesting fork in the road on my way to Yellowstone. Check in with me next time to see what happened. Till then, happy hunting!
David Strawn is a Fort Lewis College student from Creede. This is the eighth in a series about the travels of a treasure hunter searching for the riches of humans, nature and human nature.
