I first visited Wire Pass during a 3 month, solo, cross country road trip. I drove the little Honda Fit I was living in and camping out of over miles of washed out road an arroyo to get to the trail head. While the approach was a bit spooky in my very not capable vehicle, the hike, alone felt even spookier.

The depths of the canyon are cool and dark and even has moisture in the bottom – a stark contrast with the blazing desert oven above. Looking up, the glaring sun was evident only by the light refracting off the upper walls, making them glow. High overhead I could also see debris lodged between the walls, evidence of the floods that had forced roaring walls of water thought the narrow crack I found myself in the bottom of. I jumped at every noise, imaging the unpredictable freak storm that would be my end.

How often beauty and danger go hand in hand.