Broadway Cave

 On Monday we went on the Monument Canyon Broadway Cave hike.  It is about a 1000 ft elevation gain and a distance of 4.2 miles.  Never been on this hike before and Lori says its a one and done.  The trail is very rocky and once you get up into the canyon it is poorly marked and we were bushwhacking more than we were on the trail.  The last quarter mile was pretty steep and being off trail most of the time didn't help.

That said it was very scenic.  Walking through a Saguaro forest and then rewarded with a great view when we got to the top.  The cave wasn't very big but is obviously a popular place as the roof of the cave was covered in soot from campfires.  We had a nice little lunch at the top and then headed down.  My knees were screaming at me by the time we got to the bottom.  

The only injury was me brushing by a jumping Cholla cactus which promptly imbedded itself into my shoulder.  Out came the needle nose pliers and a few minutes of minor surgery and we were off again.  A great hike as the scenery was beautiful and most importantly we all lived to tell about it.  

I wasn't the only one taking pictures on this hike.  
Very beautiful landscape.

The Cholla cactus are so pretty with the sun shinning through the needles.
Just don't get to close as they, as their name implies,
jump at you, or so it seems, and imbed themselves in your body.

Saguaros' to the left, Saguaros' to the right,
Saguaros' wherever you looked.

Taken from the mouth of the cave.  
1,000 feet above the parking lot.

Barb and Lori enjoying their lunch and a well deserved break.
Chewbacca, Chewie to his friends, ever hopeful that a few crumbs
 would make their way to his mouth. 

One more hike to report on.  Freemont Saddle.  Definitely the most scenic of our hikes this year.  Plan to get that out tomorrow but now its time for bed.