Dutchman, Boulder, Second Water Loop

Weather:  65º, sun & clouds

About this Hike:  We intended to do this as an out-and-back starting on Dutchman Trail and working our way up Boulder Canyon Trail to Needle Canyon. 

All of the creeks were flowing strong.  This hike was definitely an exercise in reading topography both on a map and as it compared to the surrounding landmarks.  When we determined based on topography that we had found Needle Canyon, we weren't able to go up the canyon at all due to strong flow from the creek, which was draining into larger Boulder Creek. 

We opted to complete this hike as a loop instead of an out-and-back by continuing up Boulder Canyon and joining Second Water Canyon Trail, which would return us to the First Water parking lot. 

There were A LOT of crossings over Boulder Creek and some were tricky.  I don't know how we ever did hikes like this in the past without hiking poles—their help was indispensable.

About halfway up Boulder Canyon the trail became hard to follow.  We found a cairin marking a steep scramble up a scree chute.  I hoped that it wasn't the trail.  After some exploring, we found the correct Boulder Canyon trail, but learned a valuable lesson—the steep trail we discovered is actually the start of the trek up to the summit of Battleship Mountain.  We were informed this by a friendly group of hikers that was in the area.  As sumitting the Battleship has grown popular in recent years, I've wondered about how people find this unofficial summit trail.  Now I have an idea.

Second Water came into view, and while the creek was mostly dry, some fall foliage still hung on the trees in the creekbed. 

We returned to the parking area just in time for a magnificent sunset.  It's unfortunate so much of the Superstitions was lost this past June.  Now that I have the Tacoma I'm just getting started exploring this beautiful area of Arizona.

Hackberry Spring, Black Mesa, Lost Dutchman - Western Superstitions Loop

Weather:  65º, sunny, light clouds

About this Hike:  We were treated to three days of significant rain this past week.  By Friday things had cleared up, and by Saturday it seemed perfect for a hike in the Superstitions. 

First Water Trailhead was the goal, with trails accessible from Canyon Lake as a backup should the washes on First Water Rd. be raging.  In fact the washes were dry, if not a bit muddy.  First Water was eroded, but passable in the Tacoma.  Heck, I saw plenty of sedans back there too. 

While the washes along First Water Rd. had dried up, the creeks were flowing strong in the canyons.  Not so strong that crossing the creeks was treacherous, but just enough so as to provide the rare and beautiful juxtaposition of water in the desert. 

We parked at the equestrian staging lot and picked up Hackberry Trail from there.  Down in the canyon the creek was flowing with cold, clear water.  An upper pool flanked by boulders gave way to a small flume down each side.  It was magnificent to see this normally dry arroyo flowing.  I was equally glad to see the water was clear and not black with Woodbury ash.

We hiked out of Hackberry and back up to First Water Trail. There is a grassy, flat meadow with a teddy bear cholla forest.  On past hikes I've commented that between the grass and sun-baked clay, it looks like a flood plain.  My theory was correct.  It was a muddy mess.  It took several detours to get thru the heaviest muddy parts.  I found some deep horse tracks and followed those—the equestrian riders had indeed found the least bad path thru the mud.

From there we continued up Black Mesa and then down into Boulder Canyon.  Boulder Creek was flowing strong and several crossings were tricky but not hard.  In the canyon we heard a sound that was something between a blustering horse and a growl.  First on the right, then on the left, then behind.  Each time this seemingly angry animal would scare a flock of little black birds.  I was locked and loaded, finger on the trigger—of my bear spray.  Then it stopped.

A couple miles further, and now heading back toward the trailhead on Dutchman 104, the sound happened again.  First on the right, then on the left.  This is when we realized there was no animal spooking the birds. Rather, it was the collective wing beats of these little black birds rapidly scattering that caused the spooky noise.  I kept my bear spray close in my pocket anyway.

The hike back along 104 paralleled First Water Creek.  The sound of the running creek was delightfully serene.  There were multiple points where the trail crossed the creekbed. 

We underestimated how long this hike was going to take.  Thankfully I had a jacket and we both had headlamps.  We were treated to a beautiful sunset, stellar dark-sky views, and a hooting owl. 

Upon return to the truck, I was surprised at how many cars were still in the parking lots.  Campers, likely.

And what do I always say when I hike?  It just leads me to discover more trails and places I want to explore.  I'm curious to see as more videos and pictures come out of the Eastern Superstitions how much is left intact post-Woodbury fire and if some of those more rugged, remote hikes may be in my future...

Arizona Cypress Trail: Redeeming Value for this Trip

Weather:  78º, sunny

About this Hike:  Yesterday's hikes were a bust.  AZ Cypress trail in the Dry Creek Basin of Sedona was redeeming value to this Sedona trip.

The trailhead is down a short dirt road (more like a driveway) just off Dry Creek road prior to the 'Y' in the road that leads toward Fay and Boyton Canyons.  Enroute I passed many suckers parking their cars on precarious (and possibly illegal?) angles in an effort to get out to Devil's Bridge (I remember the good ol' days when this wasn't a Instagram hot spot).

Anyway, AZ Cypress was much quieter.  The driveway leads to a large open dirt area that would be abundant parking.  However, the silence was quickly broken by target shooters firing into a soft berm.  I opted to park the truck just off the road the trailhead lest they pump lead into it.  There's room for two vehicles here.  Otherwise, it's a short walk from the open dirt area.

The sound of gunfire aside, this was a very peaceful hike. The AZ Cypress trail starts off in soft sand as it leads toward a dry creekbed.  I'm guessing that creek overflows when water is present, hence the sand and soft, erroded berms.  Oh and the cypress trees.  These have to be some of the biggest Arizona Cypresses I've ever seen—bigger than examples on the Mogollon Rim.  Surely these are abundantly watered trees, further evidence that the dry creek can sometimes be a raging torrent.

The well-mapped and signed network of trails in this area lends to some beautiful views of Sedona and west toward Mingus Mountain, Jerome, and even Prescott. 

There were some sycamores near the creekbed that I tried to think of as fall color, even if they just turn brownish-orange. 

A full and satisfying afternoon of exploration was capped off by a hike back to the truck along AZ Cypress.  It was quiet at the trailhead.  A shot rang out.  I startled and hurt my neck.  Time to head back to town for a beer at Sedona Beer Company.  

Robber's Roost Hideout & Casner Mountain

Weather:  77º, sunny

About this Hike:  The Sedona icon Robber's Roost Hideout Cave has been on my shortlist to visit for a while.  Now that I have the 4x4 truck this Red Rock Country landmark is readily accessible.

We've been in a fairly dry spell here in Arizona, and the dirt road out to Robber's Roost would have been passable in most any SUV or even a sedan.  It did have a few small washes to cross, so probably not the best idea if wet weather is in the forecast. 

I parked at the main parking lot for the cave.  It's about another mile hike up the un-maintained dirt road to the trailhead.  The trail is short and becomes difficult to follow, although there were cairns.  Eventually it leads to the little red butte that houses Robber's Roost.

I'm honestly amazed at how many people have made it to this cave (if you want to call it that—it looks more like an indentation in the side of the butte).  I'm even more amazed at the pictures I see of coolers, chairs, and party favors in the cave.  You see, the trail eventually gives way to a narrow red-rock shelf.  The shelf slopes downward.  Downward is a sheer drop several hundred feet off a cliff. No hiking guides I read advised of this. 

I have severe fear of heights.  With no handholds, and a slope in the slippery red-rock trail, the odds were not in my favor.  I tried to be brave and press on.  I began to shake violently. 

Part of hiking is knowing your limits and knowing when to turn back.  I was completely disappointed, because from what I understand the cave was just around the corner from the treacherous point in the trail.  My fear of heights has limited me before on past hikes, but living to hike another day is more important.

A flat rock made for a comfortable bench while someone else in my hiking party braved the steep ledge.  His report back:  The cave and the surrounding views are overrated.

The next part of the hike was a short walk along the road to Casner Mountain trail.  This was described in a hiking guide as a set of switchbacks leading to the top of a mesa with elk meadows and possibly some pine forest.  Sounded beautiful. 

What I got was an extremely steep hike up with loud, buzzy high-voltage lines overhead. The trail ascends through dry desert grassland, and trees/scrub are sparse. The entire trail is exposed.  It's actually an old maintenance road for the power lines. 

Water and daylight were both running lower than I'd like.  I made it to what ended up being a false summit on Casner and decided to turn back. 

From near the top of Casner I looked down into a picturesque Sedona landscape with red-rock buttes and spires, and the yawning expanse of Sycamore Canyon.  Turns out another mile down the dirt road would have taken me to a trailhead for Sycamore Canyon. 

While both my hikes were a bust today, I may come back to explore more of Sycamore Canyon.  Apparently there's a 19 mile loop through the canyon that also takes you up Casner Mountain on the backside.  Like I've often said, all that hiking teaches me is there are more trails I want to explore. 

Javelina Trail, Old Santa Fe Railroad, & a Hiking Bonus

Weather:  71º, sunny

About this Hike:  We stayed at an Airbnb cabin in the Iron Springs / Spence Springs area.  The next morning we went to explore the Javelina Trail #332 since it was right in our backyard. 

U.S. Forest Service maps didn't show a whole lot of trails in this area west of downtown Prescott along Iron Springs Rd.  As we started hiking on Javelina, we came to several junctions. The signs were low to the ground and white—not indicative of Forest Service signage.  I still had cell reception, and after a little research, I discovered a downloadable map from the City of Prescott.

While U.S. Forest Service trails are sparse in this area, the City of Prescott has recently developed a huge trail network in the area just off Iron Springs Rd.  Parking lots and trailheads have also been added.

We spent an enjoyable Sunday afternoon exploring land that was more forested than I would have expected.  The berms that Santa Fe Railroad tracks one laid on now form part of the trail in what must have been a Rails-to-Trails type initiative.

These well-groomed trails are popular with mountain bikers, but everyone was happy to share the trails.  There are plenty more paths I want to explore in this newly discovered network.

The best part?  These trails give me an excuse to visit the Iron Springs area. Just down Iron Springs Rd. is Barnstar Brewing—a family-run brewery on a private ranch.  It only opens to the public for limited hours on weekends.  A post-hike beer at this unique little brewery is always a welcome reward. 

D'Andrea Trail & Mt. Union

Weather:  71º, sunny

About this Hike:  A few years ago after multiple failed attempts (Goodwin Fire and the like), I finally made it to Mt. Union between Prescott and Crown King.

This year I had my sights set on a trail in that same network called D'Andrea Trial.  I'd read about old mines along the trail, and being October, hoped for some fall color.

Having a new 4x4 truck, I was excited to try out it's capabilities once the Senator Highway turned to dirt.  While the roads serving this area have to be maintained to some extent since there are little communities in this part of Prescott National Forest, the dirt roads definitely are rough in places.

Arriving at the trailhead, parking was scarce—just as the forest service website said it would be.  A Subaru was in the best spot available.  But no matter, I found a great spot on the side of the road.  No sooner was the truck all parked, and I saw the 'No Parking:  Fire Lane' sign nailed to a tree.  A large cabin was directly across the road.  Lest they call a forest ranger, I started the truck up once again.

Eventually I shoehorned the truck into the only other space barely suitable to park a vehicle (legally).  And then we were on our way.

The old mine pops up quickly on the left as you ascend D'Andrea.  It is located on the upward side of a steep slope.  You have to descend a bit thru a ravine (dry the day I was there) and then up the other side.  The mine is full of water nearly to the brim.  In fact, water can be seen seeping out the hillside directly below the mine.

We continued on, and the trail quickly ended at the junction with several other trails.  We continued down an exposed ridge for a short distance, but wanting more fall color and ponderosa pines, we turned around.  We ended up on a trail that quickly led to the summit of Mt. Union.  Beautiful, but not new territory by any means.

We returned via D'Andrea.  I'll admit this ended up feeling like a 'been here, done this' sort of hike.  The temperature quickly plunged into the high 50's, and my raynauds disease quickly led to white fingers.  Time to head back into town for a beer.   

Piestewa's Open Again...

Weather:  83º, sunny

Time:  26.5 minutes

About this Hike:  It's official now. The media have gotten the press releases and everyone knows—Piestewa Peak is open for business.  While the temperatures are cooling down, it was still warm in the sun this morning.

The crowds are definitely returning to Piestewa.  There were plenty of parking spaces in the main preserve, but I opted for the sure-thing and parked on a residential street. 

Amateur hikers are back out from hiding, and there was lots of getting in each other's way, taking selfies, talking into wrists (Apple Watch?), etc. 

Admittedly my attitude soured as I continued dodging slow hikers and having people cross into my path.  I took the main trail up, but opted for the alternate summit side trail on the descent. Those ten or so minutes until the alternate trail dumped me back on Squaw Peak Drive were possibly the most blissful of this hike.  

Two Hikes in One Weekend!

Weather:  90º, sunny

Time:  35 minutes

About this Hike:  What have I done to deserve being so lucky as to hike both days this weekend?!  This is a great time of year for Sunday afternoon hikes because football season helps to clear out the trails. 

Parking was no problem this afternoon at Camelback.  The demographic on the mountain was a lot of older people and families with kids.  Some ASU students were thrown in the mix as well. 

It led to a lot of waiting for people to clear the trail or people generally nipping at my heels and making me uncomfortable.  I 'pulled over' many times to let other hikers pass.

My complaining aside, it was otherwise a nice hike today.  At the summit what appeared to be a gnat bit me, leaving a welt and considerable stinging.  It was almost like getting stung by a bee....very odd.

Still Some Construction, but Piestewa's Open!

Weather:  85º, sunny.  Humidity from rain earlier this week made this hike feel a lot hotter!

Time:  30 minutes

About this Hike:  It has been a long time since I've visited Piestewa.  About a year ago, the city decided to shut down the main parking areas just ahead of prime hiking season.  Once I got word of this, I was scared to even approach the area.  Apparently trails themselves stayed open, but parking was sparse.  I figured the residential streets in the area (which I typically favor for parking) would go the way of those around Camelback—No Parking signs everywhere.  (Honestly, if I lived in one of those big, beautiful homes around Piestewa, I probably wouldn't want hikers parking on my street either!) 

Since the closure and redevelopment of the parking lots, I've seen photos online of the final repaving projects.  Is it possible the city is preparing to re-open Piestewa?  I had to find out today...

It turns out most of the construction is done, although a barricade here and a digger over there aren't unheard of.  Some of the parking lots are open.  Some are still closed off.  Parking on the residential streets was easy—there were few other cars.  I could have actually parked in one of the main lots had I bothered to try.

I took the Alternate Summit trail both ways, hiking thru the less-busy saddle and eventually linking onto the main trail. 

For the most part the trail wasn't overcrowded.  I was surprised to be honest.  Maybe it's still a little too hot?  Or perhaps all the construction has scared other would-be hikers away? 

The only place the trail bottle-necked was the last half-mile or so prior to the summit. 

It was definitely amateur day out there, and here's just a sampling of what I encountered:

• I began to pass a slower girl in front of me.  As I approached she screamed, 'I don't wanna die!!!!' scaring the hell out of me.  I think a bug landed on her?  
• Speaking of bugs, as I started down the mountain something absolutely humongous, black, and buzzing loudly kept swarming around my head.  I freaked out and took a swipe with my baseball cap, connecting solidly with said insect.  It was no home run though; that only infuriated it, and it kept swarming.  I didn't scream quite as loud as the aforementioned girl

Anyway, I'm glad construction's finally wrapping up.  Diehards may remember two years ago that the Piestewa area was tore up for what I believe was waterline reconstruction?  It's about time to have a new and improved, functional Piestewa trailhead again.

Camel's Back in Season

Weather:  100º, sunny

Time:  34 minutes

About this Hike:  Now that Labor Day is past and summer is unoffically over (although Phoenix temperatures haven't gotten the memo yet), I wasn't sure what to expect at Camelback today.

Parking wasn't a problem.  Trails were a bit busy with what I believe were predominately tourists doing touristy things—complaining about how hard the hike is, cutting switchbacks and creating erosion, stopping at the railing to chat, and of course taking plenty of selfies. 

I took numerous water breaks.  While I was never overly hot (read my last post from July), my face often felt flushed.  I still managed an actual time of 36 minutes.  I rounded down by two minutes to account for water breaks, tourist delays, etc.

Four bottles of water proved to be just enough.  I like to always have at least one extra bottle on board in case I find someone in need.  One time a member of my hiking party (not myself) had failed to bring enough water, and a so-called water angel bailed us out.  I want to be prepared to pay it forward should the opportunity arise.

Speaking of water angels, I saw one in person today.  He had 'Need Water' written across his chest and I saw him help out a group of girls. 

Otherwise, this was a great 'shoulder season' hike.  It's still too hot for a lot of people, meaning you can get a decent parking space at Echo Canyon.  Soon the droves of tourists, ASU students, and fair-weather friends will descend on Camelback, making anything beyond a mid-week hike nearly impossible. 

Hot but Safe at Camelback

Weather:  103º, sunny

Time:  42 minutes

About this Hike:  I think I found my limit for summertime hikes at Camelback. The heat felt oppressive today.  Granted, I got started around 11 AM, which was later than I would like to have commenced.

That said, I took it very slow—hence posting a time to the summit of about 10 minutes longer than normal.  I drank a lot of electrolyte water.  I took plenty of rest breaks in what little shade I could find.

I never felt sick, dizzy, or any other distressing symptoms.  I was responsible with sunscreen and don't appear to have gotten burned.  But this was not a fun hike.  It was too hot. 

And while I enjoyed having the trail almost entirely to myself, the silence was eerie.  "What if I end up in distress up here?," and other such negative thoughts were going thru my head.

A few times I saw low-flying police choppers on patrol.  PHX PD knows many bad hiking statistics are created on days like today.

Thankfully the only stat I am is one of the thousand who hike Camelback, get back to their car, and go home.

It was a convenient day to hike today, but I'm not sure it was a good day for a hike.  

Independence Day Long Weekend & Echo Canyon

Weather:  95º, sunny

Time:  33 minutes

About this Hike:  What a great day to have off!  I know some people ended up having to work this post-Fourth Friday, but thankfully I was not one of them.

The Echo Canyon parking lot was fairly open when I arrived just after 9 this morning.   Temperatures were on the climb, but still safely below 100º. 

I enjoyed an uneventful and uncrowded climb to the summit.  At the top, the ugly smoke plume from the Gila 35 fire was plainly visible. 

I've frequented Camelback on and around the Fourth for many years, and today was no exception. 

Camelback and Woodbury Views

Weather:  97º, sunny

Time:  38.5 minutes

About this Hike:  It's about time I started having some adventures again!  This weekend has had no shortage of hikes. 

Camelback Echo Canyon is best in summer.  It's even better when the June temps are below average. 

So while the trail wasn't crowded, it wasn't completely desolate either.  Parking was easy.  Below average in Phoenix certainly does not mean that it's not still hot out.  The heat definitely got to me today, as my time attests.  I always live by the motto, "If you finish with enough water, then you didn't have enough."  I had three bottles and had downed most of the third when I reached the trailhead parking lot. 

I also wonder if I should have paid more attention to air quality alerts today.  The smoke from Woodbury Fire is just in a giant circle around the entire valley.  Four Peaks and other points north are invisible.  When I got home I developed a headache that's still with me off and on tonight as I write this.  My hiking clothes smelled strongly like a campfire.

Fire and Water - Wet Beaver Creek Swimming Adventure

Weather:  90º, sunny

About this Hike:  With below-average temps, this was the perfect weekend for a hike at the Wet Beaver Creek via Bell Trail.  Since first discovering this spot in October 2017, I've wanted to go back prepared—swimsuit, aqua socks, and a towel.  Past hikes here have been with hiking mates who ran out of water, were in a rush, expressed concerned about bacteria in the creek, etc.  I decided to fly solo on this one.

As of Friday night my plan was to get up somewhere around dawn and be on the road early.  The parking lot gets crowded fast in the summer and I figured an extra-early start would help me beat both the heat and the crush of traffic flocking to the high country on a typical summer Saturday morning.  And then the Badger Springs Fire ignited.  I-17 was closed as of bedtime on Friday night.  I considered a detour via 87 to 260 thru Payson; however, I-17 was re-opened when I got up Saturday morning. 

So about that fire...As I drove by, the smoke plume was still visible.  The burn scar along the interstate was fresh.  And the guardrails—they were still on fire and at least one had collapsed onto the shoulder.

Arriving at the main parking lot around 8am there were spots to be had, although they were filling up fast.  I choose a nice spot on the end and got my hike underway.

Since Bell Trail runs east to the 'Beaver Crack' swimming hole, I was hiking into early morning sun.  It was intense and hot.  Once I got thru the meadow and into the red-rock canyon, some outcroppings provided shade.  The trail was busy, and  I was working my way around a lot of active senior citizens.  Kudos to them for attempting this hike.

The four miles to the swimming hole went by quick as there isn't major elevation gain or obstacles on this hike.  People were cliff jumping at the swimming hole, and I was able to get a good spot on the rocky beach below. 

I wasted no time jumping into the crystal-clear blue-green water of Wet Beaver Creek.  It was cold, but felt so good after the hike.  I took care to stay out of the cliff jumpers way, and some of the active seniors joined me in the water.  My core temperature dropped fast, and when I got out I was shivering hard and had a raynauds attack in my left hand.  Nothing a little sun bathing on the flat red sandstone didn't cure. 

On the hike out I detoured down Weir Trail to the a USGS water monitoring site.  There's sandstone so flat that it almost feels man-made at the end of Weir Trail. If you go back into the woods a little ways there's a beautiful pool that's shaded by big trees.  The water is emerald-blue, and a little waterfall feeds into the pool.  Ferns form a hanging garden from the red cliffs.  Such a beautiful, serene spot... 

Back out at the monitoring site, I got in the water just downstream of the flume formed by the flow-detecting equipment.  One final cooldown...

As I headed back out thru the canyon and toward the meadow, clouds began to build in.  Cloud cover, along with an occasional breeze, made the hike out a lot cooler than the hike in was.

The drive home on I-17 was uneventful.  Badger Springs was still smoking, and the southbound guardrails were also on fire.  ADOT reports say by mid-morning the backups were bad in the fire area.  I made a good choice leaving early.  Oh, and 87 ended up being closed due to the Slate Fire yesterday, so my detour wouldn't have been such a good idea anyway...

Mt. Ord - Another One Off the Bucket List

Weather:  75º, sunny

Time:  ~90 minutes to the summit from junction with FR 1688

About this Hike:  Normally I wouldn't record my time for a hike like this, but I feel it was significant for reasons to be shared shortly...

First, let me say I never would have expected to be doing this hike in May.  The unseasonably 'cool' weather this spring has been a real treat.

Mt. Ord looms directly next to Highway 87 as one drives between Phoenix and Payson.  Many a trip to Rim Country has left me wanting to explore this 7,000 foot+ peak.  The communications towers and fire lookout are often directly visible from 87.  It's rare that you can see a mountain peak so clearly from its base.

It is nearly one year to the day that Mt. Ord's base charred by the Potatoe Fire.  For quite a time last summer Mt. Ord (and most AZ Federal lands) was closed.  Admittedly, I was nervous and was considering a backup should the gate at the base be closed and locked.  It was open upon arrival.

The road up Mt. Ord varies from rocky and rough to packed dirt.  It's narrow most of the way, and coordinating with on-coming vehicles (rare on this Memorial Sunday afternoon) can be a tricky dance.

I reset the trip odometer upon pulling off paved Highway 87 and onto Mt. Ord Rd.  The plan was to drive up about 3.5 miles, park in a turnaround, and hoof it up to the summit.  I made it 2.5 miles when I encountered the junction with un-maintained Forest Road 1688.  A grove of ponderosa and juniper made for a shaded parking spot and/or camping spot.  I backed the Xterra in and planned on an extra mile hike.  The bumpy road had gotten to me in just those short 2.5 miles (which doesn't say much; I have low tolerance for rough dirt roads).

If Google Maps is to be believed, it was almost 5 miles to the summit.  I didn't hike particularly fast.  Occasionally I had to hit the ditch when a vehicle choosing to drive to the summit went by in a cloud of dust.  I stopped often for pictures of the wildflowers, greenery, and breathtaking views.  Roosevelt Lake, Bartlett Lake, Horseshoe Reservoir, Verde River, and the Four Peaks are strikingly visible as you get higher on Mt. Ord.  Say nothing of the Mazatal Wilderness that surrounds you.  Yet I was closing in on the summit in just over an hour...I must have hiked fast.

The final push to the summit requires a hike for all but the authorized personnel that have the key to the gate.  There is a wide dirt area, and many a lifted Japanese truck was parked just before the gate.

There are multiple communications towers atop Mt. Ord.  One was labeled as Verizon Wireless, another as AT&T.  I had all bars and LTE service on this hike.

The Mt. Ord Fire Lookout is one of the biggest I've ever seen.  Wind was booming through it's steel girders like a jet engine.  A gate restricts access to the staircase, and a sign advises visitors to keep out.  This is unlike fire towers I've visited on other National Forest land, but it may be Tonto Forest's policy.  Regardless, with the wind, plus the height of that tower, I don't think my fear of heights would have let me climb it.  I was satisfied with the views at the base of the summit.

Returning to the car, it was only mid-afternoon.  I decided to explore FR-1688.  This narrow, rocky mess of a road is really more of a hiking trail.  It goes through some old, wooded ranch land, and works it's way up Little Mt. Ord.  The summit of big Mt. Ord is visible in clearings on this hike.  FR-1688 dead ends within 30-45 minute hike.  On the way back a guy was attempting to drive the road in a first-gen Hyundai Tucson that appeared to only have front-wheel drive.  He was at high risk of a tip over on the uneven road, and he was pin stripping the sides along the narrow road.  I felt bad for him for even attempting such a feat.

All in all, Mt. Ord was an awesome hike and another off the bucket list.

Last Day of Vacation - Camelback

Weather:  83º, sunny

Time:  35 minutes

About this Hike:  Last night we arrived home after several days of hiking and kayaking around the Las Vegas, NV area.  I opted to take today off work as part of my vacation so I could have an unpack and decompress day prior to returning to the rat race.

Needless to say, late morning on a Wednesday seemed like a safe bet to find parking at Camelback.  I was right.

It felt good to be back on the mountain again.  A number of hikers were pointing out a rattle snake sighting earlier in the day.  I must have just missed it.  Several hikers were looking for it, saying it had slithered under a tree.  I hate snakes and am glad it stayed there.  Regardless, I was just a little more cautious about where I put my hands on this hike.

My time to the summit wasn't great.  It was likely hampered by some dehydration I've been experiencing.  That's what happens when you spend several days in the dry Nevada sunshine.  I made a lot of stops and went through almost all my water today.

Regardless, this impromptu hike was good use of my time on the last day of vacation. 

Fletcher Canyon - Mt. Charleston

Weather:  65º, sunny

About this Hike:  Last June we explored the Mary Jane Falls in the upper parts of Mt. Charleston just outside Las Vegas, NV.  In early June the falls were flowing at a trickle fed by snow melting off the highest reaches of the Spring Mountains. 

As we headed for home last June, we passed by some intriguing lower-elevation trailheads including Fletcher Canyon.  April seemed to be a perfect time of year to return to the Las Vegas area not just to explore lower parts of Charleston, but also to do some kayaking in Lake Mead and the Colorado River before the valley gets unbearably hot.

Fletcher Canyon's parking lots were full when arrived on this Saturday afternoon.  A spot opened up just down the street near the Kyle Canyon Picnic Area and we grabbed it.  We stayed at the Mt. Charleston Retreat again, and we actually could have skipped driving.  This trailhead is accessible on foot by using (underwhelming in my opinion) Kyle Canyon Trail across the street from the hotel to access Fletcher Canyon. You can also just walk along the street.

Initial forecasts had called for a rainy Saturday.  It was warm and sunny when we arrived at the trailhead.  A seasonal stream in Fletcher Canyon was flowing with clear, grey/blue water.  Seeing this was an unexpected bonus and a beautiful testament to the wet winter much of the Desert Southwest enjoyed this year. 

Fletcher Canyon is an out and back.  As we worked our way up higher in the canyon snowpack became more apparent.  It was slippery in spots.  Combined with stream crossing (most were very easy) and them some catclaw, we decided it was best not to continue this hike.  I'd estimate we completed at least three-quarters of the Fletcher out-and-back trail.  We also explored some side trails that led to overlook points. 

All the while, we marveled at the clouds billowing up over Charleston Peak.  In no time, it was dark, thundering, and icy rain was falling.  

The rain let up ever so slightly, and we did a quick jaunt to a higher elevation trail called Robbers Roost.  This easy out-and-back takes you to a big cave.  It was late afternoon at this point and the rain started again.  We decided dinner at the Retreat's dining room sounded like the perfect end to a great day hiking Mt. Charleston. 

Desert Abloom

Weather:  69º, partial sun

Time:  ~2.5 hours

About this Hike:  This is the second time this winter that I've explored the southwestern end of South Mountain via Pyramid Trailhead.

This trailhead is located at Chandler Blvd. and 19th Ave., deep in the suburban jungle of Ahwatukee Foothills.  Last time I explored this area it was to find an old mine shaft and the remains of an old ranch.  Turns out there are a lot of side trails that, while well-blazed, don't appear on the City of Phoenix map of the preserve.  Following some of these can be tricky. 

Last time as I was finishing up my hike, I got distracted and started to explore the well-signed Bursera trail.  Bursera is part of the city's trail system.  I wanted to explore some more, but was short of time.

With temps unseasonably cool and wildflowers abloom, today was the perfect day to head back to Pyramid Trail. 

From the trailhead parking, Pyramid quickly gives way to Busera.  The signposts are abundant marking these trails.  Busera takes you up and over several ridges, with steep elevation gain, followed by steep drops.  I'd recommend poles, and regret not bringing my own. 

Eventually Busera drops through a valley that was carpeted in delicate yellow flowers. These flowers formed 'crop circles' around creosote and other desert brush.  For that matter, Busera runs along a lot of north-facing ridges, and these were exploding with purple flowers, and gold Mexican poppies. 

Busera climbs again and then joins National Trail (this 13 mile trail traverses the entire South Mountain Preserve).  I hiked up a steep ridge along National as I wanted to see the view.  Would I see Phoenix and Tempe in the distance?  Actually, South Mountain is composed of two long ranges with a deep depression, valley, canyon—call it what you like—that runs east-west down the middle.  Atop this ridge, I was able to observe this geography all the closer.  A wash and San Juan Road run through the valley floor.  As I gazed eastward the control tower at Sky Harbor could just be seen poking up in the crotch of the valley. 

I'm sure none of this is news to Phoenix hiking aficionados.  It just goes to show even after eight years in the Valley, there's still so much for me to explore—especially at America's largest urban park.

New Home, Lots of Changes, Same Old Camelback

Weather:  75º, sun

Time:  34 minutes

About this Hike:  The last time I contributed to this blog, I still lived in my old condo.  I was just beginning to pack that weekend, and the big move wasn't even for-sure at that point.

A lot has transpired during these busy past few months. There were hikes out in the Superstitions that somehow never made it on here—First Water and Peralta to be exact... Both marvelous and fantastic places in their own right.

This blog was primarily intended to serve as a scorecard, chronicling my Camelback and Piestewa excursions.  So today marks the first time my boots touched Echo Canyon since October 2018.

There was one attempt in November that ended with me frustrated and going home after much wasted time and gas circling the parking lot. 

I had today off from work because I had an out of town guest.  After dropping her at Sky Harbor, I had this day off to play.  My expectation for a reasonably quiet Echo Canyon was quickly dashed. While the overflow parking was full, the main lot had spots.  It was still busy today.

And regarding out of towners—there were many on the trail today.  I gave myself a generous handicap due to being stopped for tourists blocking the trail for photo ops, not respecting proper trail etiquette, and just generally getting in the way. 

In the end though, it was an enjoyable hike.  From the summit I observed how this record-wet winter is impacting the vacant land around my house—instead of a brown field, it appears to be a green city park from atop the Camel's back.  And it was fun to find my office and laugh at my co-workers working away down there.

It felt good to be on Camelback again after all these months.