Twelve hikers. Twelve stories. This is mine.

Ten hikers left the valley in two cars at 6:45 AM and met George and Rudy at Camp Verde. Unable to transfer an additional rider and gear to each packed car we sacrificed an inefficient shuttle for saving gas from the valley. We left Eileen’s car at the Blodgett Trailhead with radios inside. Oops. Fortunately Chuck, Wayne, Rudy, and George each brought their own radio. We were good.

Here we go on a grand adventure!

Bill asked for full stop until Chuck and Wayne caught up. The trail was steep with minimal tree cover and in places somewhat edgy.

When we got to “8” the trail started to level out and we could hear water cascading below. Still high above the creek, the troops were getting restless and chanted “We Want Water”.

At “CX1” there was water! It was our first creek crossing and a good shady place for lunch. Some went swimming, others watered down. We all relaxed. Refreshed, we headed uphill on the south side of the canyon. We stayed high with little tree cover except for the occasional washes that fed the creek.

At “BRK” we stopped under some welcome shade for a second lunch. Soon we had our second crossing at “CX2” where the trail moved to the north side of the creek. Tree cover started improving as we hiked to our third crossing at “CX3.”

We used our last crossing at “CX4” to take turns using Bill’s water filter to top our liquids. Some took a side trip the check out a locked-up cable car. Dave led us to Bull Pen Ranch. The stone walls seemed in good condition.

We headed down the road looking for the Blodgett trail junction. Location “0” on Bill’s pre-entered route agreed with the trail start on Andy’s GPS, yet no signage or appearance of a trail. Did they move it? We crossed a girder bridge, bushwhacking and reaching our way back to the road. Wayne went ahead to the Bull Pen trailhead looking signage or a trail. None. We returned to the bridge area. Rudy and Bill led bushwhacking up the hillside looking for the trail. About 200 yards later we found the trail.

We continued upward, taking frequent catch-up breaks until just past “40”. Here the trail turned south. Wrong direction. Bill went on ahead to discover it was just one big switchback. George and Anikó went up the wash following direct-line GPS tracking. Nine of us continued on trail. At catch-up stops, those with extra water and electrolytes shared with those who were short.

At “FX1” we got our first sight of FR214. The wash shortcut and non-stop hiking gave George and Anikó time to complete the final car shuttle with Becky before the nine of us returned.

About 7:30 PM, three cars left the trailhead for Camp Verde and food. Our group size swamped the sole attendant at Subway, delaying our return to the valley. Driving the US 60, Andy and Bill jokingly commented if we get back before midnight “it is still considered a day hike?” It was. Barely.

(13 miles, 2240 ft-up 2620 ft-down, Camp Verde high temp 98 degrees). Brutal but minor compared to the struggles of one of our hikers. We love you Wendy R.

Chuck suggested I share this remedy with you. Andy said that the hydrocortisone ointment helped him and the Cortisone 10 is helping me. Stay out of the heat as it flares.

Just got back from Albertson’s, the pharmacists told me oral Benedryl, Cortisone 10, after the Cortisone sinks in, then some Calamine lotion. Also cool packs. He said I could take 2 Benedryl, don’t know if you can do that. I am a mess!. I have an allergic reaction. Each time I get one bite to settle down and new one flares up. It does seem like it spreads but the pharmacist assured me that it doesn’t. Like the internet stated if it worsens, you want to see a Doc. for a prednisone Rx.

I might have the same thing as you Becky. I noticed that I have more bites today than I had yesterday. I hope they didn’t follow me home.

I ground up Benedryl tablets and made it into a paste and spread it directly on the bites yesterday and also used Calagel but they both only helped for a little while.

It’s Tuesday! Pretty good day considering that I barely have to scratch any more. I got most of my bug bites when we were waiting for the cars to be moved before the hike.

There were no bugs around while we were on the actual hike. At the end of the hike, I traveled in Becky’s Jeep to get to George’s SUV and later sat in George’s SUV.

I drank, ate and changed shoes inside the vehicles. I could not for the life of me understand why no one else wanted to get out of there like I did! The bugs were swarming outside of SUV window looking at me. I wasn’t gonna get out.   :-)

I didn’t use any medication, cream or lotion. Never have seen anything that would help me. Just scratched like a flea-infested dog. They swelled, grew, until they developed a scab.

The ones in the corner of my eyes, I didn’t touch (ok just a little pat) and for some reason they didn’t itch that much. But those swelled up and made the area around my eyes all puffy. In the morning it made me look beaten.

I also got some mosquito bites early Sunday morning next to the pool (couldn’t sleep because I was itching). I say ... Scratch all bites equally, scratch often and with gusto!!!!

I will see you guys on another hike soon (with bug repellent and high hopes of it working)!