Time: 27 minutes
About this hike: My weekends are different now. The predictable Saturday morning hike has been replaced with trips to Tucson and/or sleeping in. But I wouldn't trade a minute of it :)
This weekend is like a throw back to my past life. Normally I'd fight til I got a parking spot at Camelback; today I just didn't have the energy. I opted for Piestewa and the certainty of parking. That said, the queue waiting to get into the main lot was ridiculous. I parked in the "Beverly Hills" neighborhood that I favor, and it too was very full. I was near the top of said hill.
Jake the Juke safely and legally parked, I hoofed it to the trailhead. My ascent time this morning was 27 minutes. Certainly not bad considering:
- I haven't done this for a while (read—out of shape)
- It was insanely crowded
- These temps are way too warm for February, even by PHX standards
I relaxed in my favorite spot near the back of the summit and enjoyed the zen of it all. Someone mounted Old Glory at the "other summit" to the east. The throngs of hikers surrounding her reminded me of the famous Iwo Jima photo.
Was a nice Saturday hike.
