Weather: 58°, sunny
Time: 26 minutes
About this hike: I got back to PHX this morning after a week and a half in BUF. What a great holiday it was, filled with lots of good food and drinking!
While I had access to a gym while I was in BUF, it's just not the same as hiking my mountains. This afternoon I got back to it at Piestewa. The mountain was crowded today with (I presume) tourists and lots of families with kids. Parking was a challenge at the trailhead when I arrived and I ended up on the residential side streets. By the time I left spots were open in the main lot though.
The crowds and kids brought their usual challenges (difficulty to maintain pace, getting in each other's way). That said, it was an enjoyable hike and reminder that while I had a good time at home (BUF), I'm home when I'm in PHX.
Sunday, December 27, 2015
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Piestewa Chopper
Weather: 43°, sunny
Time: 25 minutes
About this hike: The Valley is under a festive cold spell right now. Monday brought a rainy day, and then on Tuesday I was concerned about icy trails with all the rain + near-freezing lows. Piestewa was a good bet today because the trail gets a lot of early-morning sunshine.
I chose a sweatshirt and long workout pants. Boy was I too hot once I got moving. Even when it's cold in the Valley it's not that cold—at least to this NY boy. And all that rain didn't do a thing for the brown cloud which is still hanging over downtown and the West Valley. Maybe that's why I felt some fatigue on this hike today?
PHX PD was doing some sort of practice maneuver landing their helicopter on a flat ridge near the Piestewa summit. I had no idea such a feat was possible. At least I assume it was practice; I didn't see any injured people on the mountain. Regardless, it scared me at first considering what happened with a medical chopper over the Superstition Mountains last night.
All in all a great hike today!
Time: 25 minutes
About this hike: The Valley is under a festive cold spell right now. Monday brought a rainy day, and then on Tuesday I was concerned about icy trails with all the rain + near-freezing lows. Piestewa was a good bet today because the trail gets a lot of early-morning sunshine.
I chose a sweatshirt and long workout pants. Boy was I too hot once I got moving. Even when it's cold in the Valley it's not that cold—at least to this NY boy. And all that rain didn't do a thing for the brown cloud which is still hanging over downtown and the West Valley. Maybe that's why I felt some fatigue on this hike today?
PHX PD was doing some sort of practice maneuver landing their helicopter on a flat ridge near the Piestewa summit. I had no idea such a feat was possible. At least I assume it was practice; I didn't see any injured people on the mountain. Regardless, it scared me at first considering what happened with a medical chopper over the Superstition Mountains last night.
All in all a great hike today!
Friday, December 11, 2015
Camelback Christmas Decorating
Weather: 63°, overcast
Time: ~33 minutes
About this hike: Today I hiked up Camelback again, this time with an ornament for the tree. I wrote a little 2015 memoir on it and hung it up high on the tree where only we 6'4" types can reach.
Parking wasn't too bad upon my arrival, but when I was leaving the lot was full. A guy in a white SUV spotted me and followed me to my car then sat there guarding my spot with his turn signal flashing. I'm glad I could provide someone the gift of a good parking spot at Echo Canyon.
Time: ~33 minutes
About this hike: Today I hiked up Camelback again, this time with an ornament for the tree. I wrote a little 2015 memoir on it and hung it up high on the tree where only we 6'4" types can reach.
Parking wasn't too bad upon my arrival, but when I was leaving the lot was full. A guy in a white SUV spotted me and followed me to my car then sat there guarding my spot with his turn signal flashing. I'm glad I could provide someone the gift of a good parking spot at Echo Canyon.
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Camelback Christmas
Weather: 63°, sunny, slight breeze
Time: 33 minutes
About this hike: Being a weekday crowd (I was laid off from my job on Tuesday) plus cooler temps, I expected a near-record time up the mountain. For some reason I felt slightly lethargic and queasy going up, so not even under-30 today.
Regardless, this was a special hike. Even before I reached the summit I knew the Camelback Christmas tree was going to be up. There were pine needles all over the trail.
This year they went all out. I'm not an expert in pine trees, but from the bluish branch tips I'm thinking it's a blue spruce—a beautiful, tall, full tree. Too bad it will likely succumb to the desert heat, wind, and dryness within a few days. It's decorators did put a large pot of water under it though, so hopefully it lasts. They also put battery operated lights all over the tree. I'm going to be at Papago Park tonight and plan to use my binoculars to spy on the top of Camelback to see if it is lit up. Because being at Camelback on any trail after dark gets the PHX PD in a huff.
Newly unemployed, I have plenty of time to hike. I may come back tomorrow and place an ornament on the tree. On Saturday Camelback Santa will be handing out candy canes, so parking will probably be impossible.
Time: 33 minutes
About this hike: Being a weekday crowd (I was laid off from my job on Tuesday) plus cooler temps, I expected a near-record time up the mountain. For some reason I felt slightly lethargic and queasy going up, so not even under-30 today.
Regardless, this was a special hike. Even before I reached the summit I knew the Camelback Christmas tree was going to be up. There were pine needles all over the trail.
This year they went all out. I'm not an expert in pine trees, but from the bluish branch tips I'm thinking it's a blue spruce—a beautiful, tall, full tree. Too bad it will likely succumb to the desert heat, wind, and dryness within a few days. It's decorators did put a large pot of water under it though, so hopefully it lasts. They also put battery operated lights all over the tree. I'm going to be at Papago Park tonight and plan to use my binoculars to spy on the top of Camelback to see if it is lit up. Because being at Camelback on any trail after dark gets the PHX PD in a huff.
Newly unemployed, I have plenty of time to hike. I may come back tomorrow and place an ornament on the tree. On Saturday Camelback Santa will be handing out candy canes, so parking will probably be impossible.
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Festive Piestewa
Weather: 76°, overcast
Time: 24.5 minutes
About this hike: Was a cloudy Sunday afternoon and relatively low temps meant a crowded Piestewa. Regardless, I logged a great time up the mountain today.
The Piestewa Christmas tree is decorated. I look forward to seeing the bigger Christmas tree atop Cameback, hopefully sometime this week.
Time: 24.5 minutes
About this hike: Was a cloudy Sunday afternoon and relatively low temps meant a crowded Piestewa. Regardless, I logged a great time up the mountain today.
The Piestewa Christmas tree is decorated. I look forward to seeing the bigger Christmas tree atop Cameback, hopefully sometime this week.
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Thankful for Camelback
Weather: 63°, sunny
Time: 28 minutes
About this hike: Record tied! Love these cooler temps, and my time shows it! That is a slightly adjusted time wherein I stopped the clock a little before the summit. This is to make up for stoppages beyond my control such as children, people paralyzed with fear at the railings, selfie-stick hawking tourists, etc.
The mountain was crowded, but there were breaks without a ton of people. It was better than Piestewa was yesterday.
"Lot Full" was displayed when I arrived at the parking lot, and a cross-armed ranger was enforcing it. Not willing to circle around, I parked at my secret spot (which remains un-named) down the street. By the time I got to the trailhead (~10 min.) there were plenty of parking spots. Makes me question the validity of this little show of power.
Regardless, a good hike and I am thankful for this afternoon adventure to wrap up Thanksgiving weekend.
Time: 28 minutes
About this hike: Record tied! Love these cooler temps, and my time shows it! That is a slightly adjusted time wherein I stopped the clock a little before the summit. This is to make up for stoppages beyond my control such as children, people paralyzed with fear at the railings, selfie-stick hawking tourists, etc.
The mountain was crowded, but there were breaks without a ton of people. It was better than Piestewa was yesterday.
"Lot Full" was displayed when I arrived at the parking lot, and a cross-armed ranger was enforcing it. Not willing to circle around, I parked at my secret spot (which remains un-named) down the street. By the time I got to the trailhead (~10 min.) there were plenty of parking spots. Makes me question the validity of this little show of power.
Regardless, a good hike and I am thankful for this afternoon adventure to wrap up Thanksgiving weekend.
Saturday, November 28, 2015
Post-Thanksgiving Piestewa
Weather: 60°, sunny
Time: 35 minutes
About this hike: This wasn't a solo hike, hence the time. Regardless, it was a good opportunity to burn off some Thanksgiving calories.
The mountain was crowded today, as expected during a holiday weekend that involved feasting.
Time: 35 minutes
About this hike: This wasn't a solo hike, hence the time. Regardless, it was a good opportunity to burn off some Thanksgiving calories.
The mountain was crowded today, as expected during a holiday weekend that involved feasting.
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