Sunset Sprints

Typically, I recommend that people take the awesome hiking trail up to the Pinnacle Mountain firetower. But on the days when you're feeling spontaneous and the sun is setting in less than an hour, I'm very glad there's a road to the top too. On Saturday, with just minutes of light left in the day, my inner rallycar driver took over—though, my Hyundai's inner Subaru somehow failed to manifest. After a short and steep footrace to the summit, my already breathless state compounded at the staggering glow of orange atop deep purple ridgelines. I always try, but the experience isn't one that can be properly rendered onto any medium. And when you share moments like these with a small group of strangers, they quickly feel like old friends.