Weather: 76ยบ, sun
Time: 34 minutes
About this Hike: It's one of the coolest and wettest Octobers on record the TV weather say. I originally planned to hike Camelback yesterday morning, but just as I was about to leave it started to rain. And rain. And rain some more. In fact, rain didn't let up until just after 3pm yesterday.
People post majestic pictures of the waterfalls that form on Camelback during rain. Much as I'd love to experience that firsthand, the slick rocks and fear of falls/injury kept me indoors during a rare rainy Saturday in Phoenix.
But today the clouds had parted and the sun shone once again in Phoenix. I had a theory that with last week's win all the fair-weather Cardinals fans would be watching the game. In past years during the autumn NFL season this theory has proved true and trailheads have been empty.
Today that was not the case. Camelback was packed. I had trouble getting parking, and when I did, it was a spot I was less than comfortable leaving my car in. The trails were crowded, and many hikers were from out of town based on their conversations, lack of trail etiquette, etc.
Parts of the trail were still damp, and at one point a little stream was tricking down the mountainside. Very cool. Otherwise, I was admittedly grumpy on this hike. The crowds, constant bottlenecks, people nipping at my heels, worrying about my car in the parking lot—it all kinda got to me.
But, in the end my car was OK. And I was OK. And it was a good workout on this beautiful October Sunday afternoon.
Time: 34 minutes
About this Hike: It's one of the coolest and wettest Octobers on record the TV weather say. I originally planned to hike Camelback yesterday morning, but just as I was about to leave it started to rain. And rain. And rain some more. In fact, rain didn't let up until just after 3pm yesterday.
People post majestic pictures of the waterfalls that form on Camelback during rain. Much as I'd love to experience that firsthand, the slick rocks and fear of falls/injury kept me indoors during a rare rainy Saturday in Phoenix.
But today the clouds had parted and the sun shone once again in Phoenix. I had a theory that with last week's win all the fair-weather Cardinals fans would be watching the game. In past years during the autumn NFL season this theory has proved true and trailheads have been empty.
Today that was not the case. Camelback was packed. I had trouble getting parking, and when I did, it was a spot I was less than comfortable leaving my car in. The trails were crowded, and many hikers were from out of town based on their conversations, lack of trail etiquette, etc.
Parts of the trail were still damp, and at one point a little stream was tricking down the mountainside. Very cool. Otherwise, I was admittedly grumpy on this hike. The crowds, constant bottlenecks, people nipping at my heels, worrying about my car in the parking lot—it all kinda got to me.
But, in the end my car was OK. And I was OK. And it was a good workout on this beautiful October Sunday afternoon.
