The morning is partly cloudy with a cool breeze as six daring Trailblazers set out from Apache Gap Trailhead to seek their fortune on the legendary Horns of a Dilemma.

We start climbing the ridge north of the trailhead. Before long we have several close encounters with Teddy Bear cholla (Opuntia bigelovii) and other prickly plants of the Sonoran Desert. On the ridge we are rewarded with a sweeping overlook of Willow Springs Canyon and the Goldfields.

But it’s a different ridge that takes us to peak 2881. To get there we have to climb down precariously over the rocks, cross a valley and a primitive road, and climb up on the other side.

Spring flowers are blooming everywhere. When we get to the ridge there are panoramic views in all directions with colorful blossoms in the foreground. We can see both Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake.

The smooth ridge ends with a rock climb as we approach the peak. Cairns mark the route here and there. Without a trail, we have to find our way diagonally up the steep rock face of the mountain. The bright golden slickrock gives way to dark, jagged basalt boulders near the top.

The view from the top is gorgeous, if somewhat cloudy. We all stop for a snack break, then decide to get moving again before the wind picks up.

The slope is much easier on the north side of peak 2881. We follow the ridge down to the saddle overlooking Bagley Tank on the west and Willow Creek on the east. Bagley Tank is full of water, “It was a stock watering tank,” Ted explains, “and the beginning of Disaster Canyon.”

Beyond the saddle we have to climb up and around a canyon on our right which flows eastward to Willow Creek.

You mean they aren’t really horns?  Then where’s the dilemma?

The Horns of a Dilemma aren’t visible from here, but if we go around the butte that’s hiding them we can get there without being cliffed out. Flowers lighten out spirits as we begin our steep descent.

Finally we’re on the north side of the butte and can see the horns for the first time. Our route is northeast, down to the divide which marks the beginning of Sidewalk Canyon, then on over the rocky ridge that leads to the horns.

A geologist wouldn’t have called them the Horns of a Dilemma, because they are not of glacial origin. But the name has stuck. We climb around them on the north side, then begin our steep descent into Sidewalk Canyon.

The Horns of a Dilemma are visible from the Apache Trail highway (Arizona 88). You can see their tops by looking north from milepost 208, then you can see them by looking west from the hill by the Mailbox Trailhead.

Junk Canyon is a welcome sight.

The bottom of Sidewalk Canyon mostly smooth rock, making it the easiest part of our hike. It’s tempting to keep walking here, but that would take us north to Saguaro Lake instead of south to the highway.

We leave the canyon and walk southeast over a low saddle, then make our descent to a tributary of Willow Creek. The navigation is easy here – just walk downstream.

But there are several streams. Which one is Willow Creek? Where do we turn?

Nothing to it: Willow Creek is the largest stream coming in from the right before we pass through the rock portal. Today it has pools of water.

A canyon tempts us to turn right and climb up toward the highway, but it’s one canyon too soon. Ted consolidates the hikers to make sure no one makes the wrong turn.

Junk Canyon is unique. It’s an easy route back to our cars, but alas, as usual, it’s full of junk. Barrels with bullet holes in them, bedsprings, tires, beer cans — very sad to find such things in the wilderness.

The good news is that the climb is easy and it doesn’t last. The midday clouds are gone, and we finish our off-trail Goldfield adventure hike on a glorious spring afternoon.