Picacho Peak is the battlesite of Arizona's westernmost Civil War in 1862. The peak is so tall it was also used as a traveling point for settlers going between New Mexico and California. As I arrived at the entrance, to my disappointment, I saw the closed sign and the gates were locked. I saw a few businesses close by and opted to go in to the junkyard-like garage and ask why the park was closed. The woman behind the counter said it was summer, it's too hot to be out in the park, there's a no smoking outside ban and, to not only deter fires from careless smokers, the state was saving money by closing some of the state parks through the hot, dry summer - some are only open September through May. There was not any information online about state park closures so if visiting any state park in the southwest during the summer, call the rangers ahead to make sure they are open.

Seeing that I was disappointed about the park being closed, a man at the back of the building said that the park rangers had just left and they are always gone down the hill for three hours before returning to do their checks. He said if I wanted to 'hop' his fence I could take off hiking and be back before they returned but if I got caught, it would all be on me. I made a quick decision and didn't hop the fence but found a hole big enough to get through and off I went, blazing my own trail through the saguaro cactus and scrub brush. I hiked about an hour before starting my treck back, giving me plenty of time to beat the rangers. After reaching the shortest hilltop I found a dry washbed and followed it down toward what I thought was my starting point; I wasn't too far off but did have to pass the other business (an adult only store) that had a few big rig trucks and a driver or two in the parking area. I got a few stares as I made my way to the pavement and down the hill where I left the truck. I popped my head back in to the garage and said my thank you's and off I went. There was no way I could have made it to the peak with out starting closer to the base and not getting caught so I have to appreciate the great shots I did get and the slight thrill of doing something sneaky and not getting caught.

On my way back to camp it was getting late and I knew I had to cross the rattlesnake field if I wanted to shower in the showerhouse...not lucky enough, it was the twilight hour when I arrived so walking the 150 feet to the showerhouse was my second biggest challenge of the day. My one word adjective for the days' events, "successful".

Tomorrow will be spent exploring West Saguaro National Park.