Weather: 78ยบ, sunny, high pollution
Time: 26 minutes
About this Hike: I'm not sure how I did this in 26 minutes. I planned on giving myself a handicap of at least two minutes once I stopped the timer at the summit.
In just over six years in the Phoenix area, I've never seen air quality like today. The local news says a dust storm from California blew into our area and lingered for two days. Unlike the massive haboob dust walls we see in Monsoon Season, this was just two days of fine grit creating haze in the atmosphere around The Valley. From Piestewa's summit the skyscrapers of uptown Phoenix barely pierced the haze. Views of downtown, much less Sky Harbor Airport, were a loss.
Today is my first day home after nearly a week hiking in the Arizona High Country. I should be unpacking and doing other after-vacation tasks. But a cool front had blown in, and I selfishly wanted to take advantage of the temps.
I donned a respiratory mask and made the hike up Piestewa. Other hikers shot curious and judgmental stares. This made water breaks a challenge, hence why I planned to give myself a generous a handicap. When I arrived near the summit and stopped the S Health timer, I couldn't believe I was only at 26 minutes. Imagine if this had been a normal day and my nose and mouth weren't covered...
I never actually touched the summit but stopped at the final push where you have to scramble a bit onto the summit. I was done with this hike—Disgusted by air quality. Disgusted with the fact I had bruised my forearm on a rock facing. Disgusted with a mom who was carrying her coughing child while he spewed germs all over other hikers (or was sickened by the air).
Upon descent, I met a friendly guy from Oregon. He saw my mask, but he totally got it.... We talked about the poor air quality, and how this bad of air isn't normal, even for Phoenix.
This is one hike I regret going on. Upon return to my car, I was grateful to have survived this dusty, smoggy Saturday.
Time: 26 minutes
About this Hike: I'm not sure how I did this in 26 minutes. I planned on giving myself a handicap of at least two minutes once I stopped the timer at the summit.
In just over six years in the Phoenix area, I've never seen air quality like today. The local news says a dust storm from California blew into our area and lingered for two days. Unlike the massive haboob dust walls we see in Monsoon Season, this was just two days of fine grit creating haze in the atmosphere around The Valley. From Piestewa's summit the skyscrapers of uptown Phoenix barely pierced the haze. Views of downtown, much less Sky Harbor Airport, were a loss.
Today is my first day home after nearly a week hiking in the Arizona High Country. I should be unpacking and doing other after-vacation tasks. But a cool front had blown in, and I selfishly wanted to take advantage of the temps.
I donned a respiratory mask and made the hike up Piestewa. Other hikers shot curious and judgmental stares. This made water breaks a challenge, hence why I planned to give myself a generous a handicap. When I arrived near the summit and stopped the S Health timer, I couldn't believe I was only at 26 minutes. Imagine if this had been a normal day and my nose and mouth weren't covered...
I never actually touched the summit but stopped at the final push where you have to scramble a bit onto the summit. I was done with this hike—Disgusted by air quality. Disgusted with the fact I had bruised my forearm on a rock facing. Disgusted with a mom who was carrying her coughing child while he spewed germs all over other hikers (or was sickened by the air).
Upon descent, I met a friendly guy from Oregon. He saw my mask, but he totally got it.... We talked about the poor air quality, and how this bad of air isn't normal, even for Phoenix.
This is one hike I regret going on. Upon return to my car, I was grateful to have survived this dusty, smoggy Saturday.
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