Trailblazers on the trail. [photo by Tamar]

Four trailblazers slept in and arrived at the First Water Trailhead at a reasonable 9am. The road to the trail was especially rutted and bumpy compared to usual. We started off on the second water trail and veered onto the social trails after the wash following a previous track. We had the desert to ourselves as we traversed the area between the spring and the corral. We took the wrong path at a junction due to leader confusion, having overlapped 2 different loops on my phone, and accidentally cut a mile off the hike, skipping the Spring. Even so, we had a nice hike over to Garden Valley and took the Second Water trail back.

Walking toward Hackberry spring.

Should have gone left.

Although we didn't hit the Spring on this hike, it was perfect weather and good company and we were on our way back to civilization before noon.

Garden valley is very green.

On ward.