Piestewa Peak

Weather:  ~82°, sunny, slight breeze

Time to Summit:  27 minutes

About this hike:  Barely made it in 27...in fact, it was practically 28.  Then again, I  was slowed by other hikers lumbering along plus a few stops to catch my breath.  Uneventful, but fun.

Piestewa Peak

Weather:  80°, sunny, slight breeze

Time to Summit:  28 minutes

About this hike:  I went backwards on my time!!! With the number of slower hikers I had to dodge, and a couple of heat-related breaks, I guess I should be happy I missed my old time by less than a minute.  Lots of lizards and a squirrel made me jump thinking they were rattle snakes or some other unkind desert wildlife.  Otherwise, a typical and uneventful hike up Piestewa Peak.

Two Hikes in as Many Weekends

Weather:  ~90°  & sunny

Time to Summit:  27 minutes

About this hike:  Did two Saturday hikes, one on April 20, and an evening hike on April 13.  Both times it took 27 minutes to the summit.  Sunset on the 13th was beautiful.  Otherwise these were easy, but uneventful hikes.  Piestewa Peak is quickly becoming to this season what Camelback was to last season.  At least parking's much easier and I can be on the trails after dark.  

Beautiful sunset

City lights from on high...look closely and you can see the radio towers atop South Mountain

Piestewa Peak

Weather:  ~80°  & sunny

Time to Summit:  30 minutes

About this hike:  Uneventful Saturday morning hike at Piestewa Peak.  Unlike two Saturdays ago when it appeared cops were looking the other way, cars parked illegally on Squaw Peak Drive were being ticketed today.  Glad I discovered easy and legal parking in surrounding residential neighborhoods.  Spring wildflowers in the Preserve are absolutely beautiful.

Piestewa Peak by Night

Weather:  ~85°  & sunny

Time to Summit:  ~28 minutes

About this hike:  Hiked up for the sunset, which was disappointing.  Hiked down in the dark, but I came prepared with my headlamp.  Since Piestewa Peak trails are open until 11pm (parking area closes at sunset, oddly enough), there were numerous other hikers.  Seeing all the flashlights coming down the side of the mountain was pretty cool, like when everyone puts their phones up during a dark concert.  Oh, and to mitigate the parking issue, I left my car in a residential neighborhood just off Lincoln Drive.  Numerous other hikers were in violation of the no parking after sunset rule, but it didn't appear to be getting enforced.

"Loved" My Hike Up Piestewa

Weather:  ~70° & rising. Sunny.

Time to Summit:  28 minutes

About this hike:  Haven't done Piestewa Peak since July (and even then I had some "excess baggage" that quit long before the summit!).  I did try a few weeks ago to access it via Dreamy Draw, but after over an hour of navigating labyrinthine trails that don't match the map (not a fan of Phoenix Mountain Preserve) and then finding the summit trail only to hit a "Trail Closed" sign, I gave up.

Had to fight for parking this morning, but learned that it is legal to park in the surrounding neighborhoods.  The Preserve (not the parking areas tho) stays open until 11pm.  I might have a use for that awesome hiking headlamp I bought last summer...

Despite having to dodge tourists and slow hikers, I made the summit in under 30 min.  While a few catch-my-breathe stops were necessary, Piestewa is almost too easy—Camelback please open again soon!!!

This morning a totally in love couple got engaged complete with picnic basket, wine, roses, candles and a ukulele.  Always something unique every hike...

Thompson Peak (~4K) is Off the List

Weather:  76° & sunny

About this hike:  Traffic  on the 101N to Gateway Trailhead in McDowell Sonoran was kind of heavy, but then again it's the weekend of Phoenix Open nearby in Scottsdale.  Parking was abundant at Gateway, and while the facilities are every bit as nice as Tom's Thumb, this one also has running water.

I have often gazed northward at the McDowells from atop Camelback wanting to conquer the mountain with the radio antennas on top (northward—don't confuse with South Mountain!).  I thought this was McDowell Peak, but I was mistaken—it's Thompson Peak.  Regardless, from the Gateway Trailhead it's a long hike up and over Bell Pass to the short Prospector Trail.  Prospector joins the service road that leads to the summit of Thompson Peak and the radio towers.

On the road up to Thompson Peak I encountered a MCSO deputy, but he ignored me, which is good as the language (road may be gated, county property), was unclear on whether or not hiking was allowed up there.  The maps all show the road and tell you the height of Thompson Peak, so I had to assume it was OK.  It was a very strenuous climb, and I nearly turned back at least once, but the view from on top is amazing.  The radio towers are massive and scary, and signs warn of radiation in the area.  I didn't stay at the top for long.

The surrounding scenery is typical Sonoran desert with saguaros, ocotillo, and lots of colorful rocks.  At times this hike was eerie quiet, and I saw some unidentified animal tracks on the trail.  Thankfully every so often I came across other hikers.  Being alone in this harsh desert can get scary.

Round trip, according to the maps I studied, I'd peg this hike at about 13 miles.  I am so glad to say I finally can check this one off the bucket list, but my gosh, I am so sore and paying for it tonight.