Weather: 62º, sunny
Time: 26 minutes
About this Hike: This has been a rainy, cool weekend. The past few years February's arrival has brought with it highs in the 90's. The fact our short Phoenix winter is hanging on in 2017 is nothing I'll complain about.
Despite some lingering clouds, this morning the sun was shining through. Lower temps were all but cancelled out by the notable higher humidity. I believe this is the reason for a 26 minute time to the summit.
This is the first year I've had President's Day as a paid company holiday—as did the rest of the Valley, it seems. The crowding on the mountain was bad at times today.. On the ascent there were periods of peace and respite. However, on the descent I couldn't get into a good cadence. I had other hikers constantly nipping at my heels, while less experienced hikers on their way up would stop and block the trail in front of me. Needless to say, I was grouchy by the time this one was finished.
BUT, I had to put on a happy face... Walking back to my car I ran into one of my neighbors who happened to be searching for a parking spot to do her own hike. She graciously drove me back to the residential area where I was parked. I suggested she park there as well, considering the number of cars circling the main lots....
Monday, February 20, 2017
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Open House at Piestewa
Weather: 68º, partly cloudy
Time: 25 minutes
About this Hike: Not a bad time posted considering the mountain was very crowded. Pretty typical for a Saturday morning in February. This was a rough week filled with mass layoffs at work (I'm spared, for now) and some other unsettling job-related news. To say I had some anger and frustration spurring me on would be an understatement...
Otherwise the hike was very uneventful. A bottleneck always forms right as the trail gives way to the summit. This is due to some light scrambling that's required onto the summit. Rather than fight through this, I chose to just pivot and head back down.
After the hike I returned to my car which was parked on one of the surrounding residential streets. I've had my eye on a home that for sale in that neighborhood. Imagine city views and hike-out access to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. While the $619k asking price may be just a bit out of my price range (by about half-a-million—plus I may be out of a job soon), I noticed an 'Open House' sign. Right after the hike I was far from presentable compared to the suit-and-tie clad Realtor, but I invited myself in. So anyway, peeping at an open house, and daring to dream, were definitely the highlights of this hike.
Time: 25 minutes
About this Hike: Not a bad time posted considering the mountain was very crowded. Pretty typical for a Saturday morning in February. This was a rough week filled with mass layoffs at work (I'm spared, for now) and some other unsettling job-related news. To say I had some anger and frustration spurring me on would be an understatement...
Otherwise the hike was very uneventful. A bottleneck always forms right as the trail gives way to the summit. This is due to some light scrambling that's required onto the summit. Rather than fight through this, I chose to just pivot and head back down.
After the hike I returned to my car which was parked on one of the surrounding residential streets. I've had my eye on a home that for sale in that neighborhood. Imagine city views and hike-out access to the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. While the $619k asking price may be just a bit out of my price range (by about half-a-million—plus I may be out of a job soon), I noticed an 'Open House' sign. Right after the hike I was far from presentable compared to the suit-and-tie clad Realtor, but I invited myself in. So anyway, peeping at an open house, and daring to dream, were definitely the highlights of this hike.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Supra Piestewa Hike
Weather: 71º, sunny
Time: 25 minutes
About this Hike: With the WM PHX Open in town the trails were as expected: crowded. I didn't even bother visiting the main parking lots first; I just parked off site.
Despite the crowds I powered through and made good time to the summit. Despite low air temperatures, the sun was intense during this late-morning hike.
Upon returning to the trailhead there was a final-generation Toyota Supra and an early-2000's Acura Integra in the queue for a parking spot. While I took pictures of their ricey cars, the driver of the Supra looked expectantly at me...I realized he was hoping to nab my parking spot. Since I was parked off-site no luck for him...
Otherwise an enjoyable, routine hike—a great opportunity to burn some calories before tonight. Word is there's a big game on TV....
Time: 25 minutes
About this Hike: With the WM PHX Open in town the trails were as expected: crowded. I didn't even bother visiting the main parking lots first; I just parked off site.
Despite the crowds I powered through and made good time to the summit. Despite low air temperatures, the sun was intense during this late-morning hike.
Upon returning to the trailhead there was a final-generation Toyota Supra and an early-2000's Acura Integra in the queue for a parking spot. While I took pictures of their ricey cars, the driver of the Supra looked expectantly at me...I realized he was hoping to nab my parking spot. Since I was parked off-site no luck for him...
Otherwise an enjoyable, routine hike—a great opportunity to burn some calories before tonight. Word is there's a big game on TV....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)