"My first hike in a desert climate. Approaching 100 degrees in the sun and being less than 1000 miles from the equator, this was quite the introduction to desert hiking. I wore long pants and a long-sleeved polyester shirt for sun protection, which also came in handy as I got snagged on several cactus spines. I took a taxi to the Arikok National Park Visitor Center, paid the $20 entrance fee, headed up the road a bit, then turned right onto the Masiduri Trail around 9am. From this point, I did not see another human until I left the park. The first point of interest was the ruins of the Miralamar Mining Complex, a gold mine active until 1916. The trails in this area were partially shaded by tall bushes and cacti, particularly at lower elevations where water presumably flows during rainfall. During my descent past the Mil Esperansa mine shaft, I ran into a stray dog that I initially thought was a wolf or coyote (no such large land mammal exists in Aruba). The dog was unhappy that I approached it and began barking, but peacefully strolled past me after I stepped off the trail. Other than the dog, I saw plenty of lizards, birds, and one large spider. After this encounter, I began the gr..." — JCalautti • Dec 29, 2024