Frost Warning – Not The Painter

October 21, 2024 – Day 11
Red Rock Park, Churchrock, NM — Point of Rocks Campground, Prescott AZ

Remember how we mentioned we were idiots for having such a late start? We were disappointed that we missed much of the glowing red rocks last night because we we got in late and were driving around until dark to find a place to park. We decided to get up early and go for a hike in the rocks. It was cold! We were greeted by frost on the Jeep!

We bundled up and headed out. The trail was pretty easy at the start and the views were fantastic. Of course, the red rocks were in the shade so they weren’t glowing.

We came across what was probably an old horse hitching post then we noticed the holes carved in the rocks on the wall behind. They were too perfectly made and spaced out to be natural. We have no idea who made those or what they’re for.

The trail started getting slightly harder.

Soon the trail turned even harder.

Now that might not look like much, but look back at all those frost pictures. The ground was very slippery. The sign at the start of the trail said the rocks can be slippery and that it was closed at night and during rain. Melting frost counts as rain in our book. We’re here for the adventures not for injuries. We turned back. Earlier we’d seen people hiking down in the wash so we found a way to get down to it. This was very soft sand with plenty of traction.

The running water made patterns in the sand just like the ones we would see at the beach in Provincetown.

Soon the wash ended in a box canyon where we couldn’t even see, much less hike to, the Church Rocks. Oh well, there will be other rocks elsewhere.

On the way back the sun was getting hot. We’d take our jackets off when in the sun and put them back on in the shade. The frost had all melted and the plants that were covered in frozen dew now were evaporating off.

When we were almost back to the campground there was a section of red rock that was getting sun.

The hike was certainly worth the small delay. And, it wasn’t that bad of a delay because we were up early and had a short day’s drive to the next destination.

Leaving the campground we saw some horses.