Embarking on the cold, wet, and foggy ascent along Oracle Ridge, too late in the night, I nestle into tall grass, once again seeking refuge under a perpetually damp poncho.
High above the arid landscape, the town of Summerhaven faces a water shortage, a challenge underscored by the lack of monsoon rains in the larger Tucson area, exacerbating the crisis caused by over-pumping and drought along the Colorado River.
However, in this oblivious touristy mountain town on a casual Sunday, I find solace amidst the looming apocalypse, savoring a giant white chocolate macadamia nut cookie crowned with two scoops of vanilla ice cream. The cold indulgence tempers my core body temperature as I depart, still damp and now shivering uncontrollably.
Drawing water from Lemmon Creek, frigid enough to make me hesitate to filter, and noticing again the black funk, Stachybotrys chartarum, growing on the inside of my bottle. It’s a consequence of filling water bottles in town, from soda fountains where the nozzles haven’t been cleaned or their filters regularly changed. Mold thrives, feasting on sugars inside those neglected nozzles.
Civilization, delicately poised, could turn like the water in my bottle.
Yet, amidst the uncertainties, every stranger I encounter carries a glimmer of hope, an ember that sparks the potential for our shared humanity.
#Arizona #wandering