Hike of the Month

ike of the Month Orchestrate Your Own Flower Show on the Ballantine Trail

Up ahead Rob called out: "Look at this." A 16-inchlong Gila monster was crossing our trail. I trotted over, reached for my camera, and accidentally dropped a film cap on the ground a foot from the animal's head. At first the big lizard showed no reaction, but when I reached down to retrieve my film cap, it suddenly whipped around to face me. So much for the Gila monster's reputation as sluggish and lumbering. Our monster backed up under a small cholla. Its forked black tongue dutifully flicked the air for scent as its coal black eyes kept track of my feet. But I couldn't keep my eyes from the Gila monster's back. It was a beautiful piece of beadwork in swirling patterns of coral and black. One of the creature's paws particularly caught my eye. Each toe was wrapped in beaded pink rings. We four hikers and a beautifully beaded monster - were on the Ballantine Trail,

WHEN YOU GO

The Ballantine is primarily a desert trail, so the best times to hike it are in the cooler months of the year. It is recommended that you call ahead to check trail conditions. In spring be sure to bring along a flower identification book. The Pine Creek Loop, about three miles long, is at the beginning of the trail and is fairly easy, but the rest of the Ballantine can be strenuous. The rugged trail climbs about 4,000 feet in 12 miles before dropping down to its terminus at Cline Cabin. To reach the Ballantine Trailhead from the Phoenix area, take State Route 87 northeast to Milepost 210.3 (about 32 miles from the junction of McDowell and Country Club roads in Mesa). The trailhead and parking area are on the east side of the highway, and the trail is well-marked. Topographic maps are a must. For additional information, contact the Mesa Ranger District, Tonto National Forest, P.O. Box 5800, Mesa, AZ 85211-5800; (602) 379-6446.

Along a long snaking passage that could have led us all the way from saguaros to snow country if we'd had the time. But not that spring day. I'd hiked the Ballantine many times. It is an especially convenient trail for me because it lies about halfway between Phoenix and my home near Pine, perfectly situated as a meeting point for hikes with friends from the city. That day, for example, I'd planned to meet some friends for the Ballantine's springtime desert flower show, one of the best in years. We started at 10 A.M. on the north fork of the Pine Creek Loop. Within a half mile, we were traipsing along a stream lined with mesquite and cottonwoods and one of the biggest droopyarmed saguaros I've ever had the pleasure to meet. The slope to our right was painted nearly solid purple with lupine, while bursts of yellow from brittlebush, gold from poppies, pink from owl clover, and red from ocotillo filled in around the edges. As we hiked, we identified more than 20 other wildflowers on this trail, but we left at least another 50 unnamed. Flowers we had never seen before seemed to pop open as we approached. After about four miles, much of it steady climbing along the ridge between Pine Creek and Camp Creek, we reached Boulder Flat just in time for lunch. We crossed the creek to find a pleasant place to stretch out on the rocks. While Along the Ballantine Trail, hikers encounter clumps of brittlebush (LEFT), jojoba, and cacti, including the saguaro and ocotillo (RIGHT). BOTH BY NICK BEREZENKO (BELOW) Seeing an elusive Gila monster is an unexpected treat. T.A. WIEWANDT we relaxed, a red-tailed hawk drifted by, and a perky little rock wren repeatedly hopped upon boulders to belt out songs as if auditioning. The air whirred with nectar-drinking insects, and a black-chinned hummingbird sat on a bare paloverde branch and seemed to lick its "lips." From Boulder Flat we had a choice. We could continue east up into narrow Ballantine Canyon and on south to the Four Peaks Road some seven or eight miles and more than 2,000 feet in elevation gain. On the other hand, we could cut off on a nonsystem, unmaintained trail to the north, traverse along the foot of Boulder Mountain and eventually hit the hamlet of Sunflower at Sycamore Creek. Or we could do what we did: lounge around in the sun a bit longer, then take our time moseying back to the car sniffing flowers as we went. Not a bad choice. That was when we saw the Gila monster.