Weather: 97º, sunny, light breeze
Time: 35 minutes
About this Hike: It felt a lot warmer than 97º today and the occasional breeze was a welcome respite. High pollution, heat, and humidity be damned—I have this rare pre-July 4th day off and I was going to enjoy a hike!
Honestly, my 35-minute trek to the top wasn't too bad. I did have to pause a lot to ensure I was hydrated. Like I've said before, you gotta respect the mountain. I also didn't have Powerade, Smartwater, etc. for this hike, so no electrolytes—just good ol' bottled/tap water.
I've decided that while the heat is intense, it sure beats fighting a full parking lot and crowded trails. You can condition and plan for the heat; not so much when the mountain is bumper-to-bumper traffic. That said, you need to work up to hiking in these conditions. There are far too many stories of tourists being rescued from Echo Canyon and other Phoenix-area trails each year.
Monday, July 3, 2017
Saturday, July 1, 2017
Hot Sandstone @ Echo Canyon
Weather: 92º, sunny
Time: 33 minutes
About this Hike: Been a while since I've had a weekend where I'm able to squeeze in a timed Camelback climb. Considering that it was fairly hot out, I guess 33 minutes wasn't terrible. I took just a few short pauses on the way up, usually for a quick drink of water. And, those pauses primarily came in the home stretch in that final, steep area of scrambling.
Neither the trails nor the parking area were very busy this morning. It's a great conundrum—cooler temps and busy trails, or challenging heat and quieter trails?
Time: 33 minutes
About this Hike: Been a while since I've had a weekend where I'm able to squeeze in a timed Camelback climb. Considering that it was fairly hot out, I guess 33 minutes wasn't terrible. I took just a few short pauses on the way up, usually for a quick drink of water. And, those pauses primarily came in the home stretch in that final, steep area of scrambling.
Neither the trails nor the parking area were very busy this morning. It's a great conundrum—cooler temps and busy trails, or challenging heat and quieter trails?
Saturday, June 3, 2017
Los Burros Trail - Pinetop
Weather: 82º, sunny
About this Hike: I had difficulty finding the details I wanted about Los Burros online, so I'm going to try to share them here. Hopefully this helps another aspiring Los Burros explorer.
Los Burros is an easy drive from downtown Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ. It does require about seven miles over a dirt road. Websites say it's a gravel road which to me means hard packed gravel and oil. Oh no...this road is dirt. It is well-maintained, graded dirt. I didn't encounter any major potholes or washboard sections. However, it's dirt and your car will get filthy. I was driving in my brand new Mazda CX-3 and was not happy. But, give the road plenty of respect, especially if you're in a car, and you'll be OK.
The Los Burros trailhead originates from a campground with the same name. It's a peaceful respite in the woods with some preserved historical U.S. Forest Service structures onsite. The higher elevation lends to cooler temperatures.
The trail forms a giant loop said to be ~10 miles. I chose to hike up to the fire lookout tower which was probably around eight miles round trip. Numbered markers dot the trees along the trail and maps are available at the trailhead. While fairly well-signed, staying on course does get tricky in places.
Hiking up to the fire tower takes you through green, flower-filled meadows; ponderosa pine forest; and even some stands of aspen. When I reached the summit of Lake Mountain and the fire tower, a ranger was manning it and invited me up.
He was a very interesting older gentleman who had spent many a summer in what I learned is called the Lake Mountain Lookout. This particular ranger had gone back to school for graphic design. His artwork and photography decorates the 7x7 interior of the tower ('the cab' as they call it). Upon my departure, he let me pick a postcard he had designed with artwork depicting Lake Mountain Lookout. Such an amazing souvenir of this hike.
Lake Mountain wasn't my first Arizona fire tower hike, and I hope it's not my last. These towers require me to force one foot in front of the other. With metal mesh staircases and a ladder for the final six-foot climb, these do no favors for my fear of heights. However, the experience you have visiting these historic U.S. Forest Service structures makes the discomfort more than worth it.
So what is Lake Mountain anyway? Well it turns out just below the fire tower there's a large, open meadow. This has been known to fill during heavy rains, hence the name Lake Mountain Lake. It was a marshy grassland during my visit in early June. I noted some bones—possibly elk—strewn about the meadow.
Overall, an awesome hike worth the hassle of getting to in the White Mountains.
About this Hike: I had difficulty finding the details I wanted about Los Burros online, so I'm going to try to share them here. Hopefully this helps another aspiring Los Burros explorer.
Los Burros is an easy drive from downtown Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ. It does require about seven miles over a dirt road. Websites say it's a gravel road which to me means hard packed gravel and oil. Oh no...this road is dirt. It is well-maintained, graded dirt. I didn't encounter any major potholes or washboard sections. However, it's dirt and your car will get filthy. I was driving in my brand new Mazda CX-3 and was not happy. But, give the road plenty of respect, especially if you're in a car, and you'll be OK.
The Los Burros trailhead originates from a campground with the same name. It's a peaceful respite in the woods with some preserved historical U.S. Forest Service structures onsite. The higher elevation lends to cooler temperatures.
The trail forms a giant loop said to be ~10 miles. I chose to hike up to the fire lookout tower which was probably around eight miles round trip. Numbered markers dot the trees along the trail and maps are available at the trailhead. While fairly well-signed, staying on course does get tricky in places.
Hiking up to the fire tower takes you through green, flower-filled meadows; ponderosa pine forest; and even some stands of aspen. When I reached the summit of Lake Mountain and the fire tower, a ranger was manning it and invited me up.
He was a very interesting older gentleman who had spent many a summer in what I learned is called the Lake Mountain Lookout. This particular ranger had gone back to school for graphic design. His artwork and photography decorates the 7x7 interior of the tower ('the cab' as they call it). Upon my departure, he let me pick a postcard he had designed with artwork depicting Lake Mountain Lookout. Such an amazing souvenir of this hike.
Lake Mountain wasn't my first Arizona fire tower hike, and I hope it's not my last. These towers require me to force one foot in front of the other. With metal mesh staircases and a ladder for the final six-foot climb, these do no favors for my fear of heights. However, the experience you have visiting these historic U.S. Forest Service structures makes the discomfort more than worth it.
So what is Lake Mountain anyway? Well it turns out just below the fire tower there's a large, open meadow. This has been known to fill during heavy rains, hence the name Lake Mountain Lake. It was a marshy grassland during my visit in early June. I noted some bones—possibly elk—strewn about the meadow.
Overall, an awesome hike worth the hassle of getting to in the White Mountains.
 |
| Lake Mountain Lake |
 |
| My poor new car! |
Friday, May 26, 2017
Tour Guide on Echo...
Weather: 92º, sunny
About this Hike: I was with some good company and chose not to do a time trial. With warm-ish temps (although very nice for late May), I didn't want any of my visitors to croak from heat exhaustion. No Cholla trail here though—my visitors are required to do Echo Canyon :)
The trail wasn't too crowded this Friday morning. We saw some wildlife including several big orange lizards and a unique bird. Maybe a roadrunner?
Routine and enjoyable late-spring hike before the real heat sets in.
About this Hike: I was with some good company and chose not to do a time trial. With warm-ish temps (although very nice for late May), I didn't want any of my visitors to croak from heat exhaustion. No Cholla trail here though—my visitors are required to do Echo Canyon :)
The trail wasn't too crowded this Friday morning. We saw some wildlife including several big orange lizards and a unique bird. Maybe a roadrunner?
Routine and enjoyable late-spring hike before the real heat sets in.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Back to Piestewa
Weather: 84º, sunny
Time: 25 minutes
About this Hike: Warmer weather may have skimmed off the weakest of Saturday hikers... While crowded, I've seen much worse at Piestewa.
Despite the heat I still posted a reputable time. At the summit there were large wasps (possibly male velvet ants?) that seemed to like buzzing around me. Concerned for my safety, I descended from the summit after only a short stay.
Overall a nice, uneventful hike as we quickly say goodbye to tolerable temps in The Valley.
Time: 25 minutes
About this Hike: Warmer weather may have skimmed off the weakest of Saturday hikers... While crowded, I've seen much worse at Piestewa.
Despite the heat I still posted a reputable time. At the summit there were large wasps (possibly male velvet ants?) that seemed to like buzzing around me. Concerned for my safety, I descended from the summit after only a short stay.
Overall a nice, uneventful hike as we quickly say goodbye to tolerable temps in The Valley.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Quick Piestewa Visit
Weather: 68º, heavy clouds, windy
Time: 24 minutes
About this Hike: Cloudy skies, breezy conditions, and a not-too-hot air temp all spurred me to the summit quicker than my most recent hikes. Although the mountain was crowded, I managed to find moments of respite from the crowds.
Overall a quick, routine hike on a beautiful late winter day.
Time: 24 minutes
About this Hike: Cloudy skies, breezy conditions, and a not-too-hot air temp all spurred me to the summit quicker than my most recent hikes. Although the mountain was crowded, I managed to find moments of respite from the crowds.
Overall a quick, routine hike on a beautiful late winter day.
Monday, February 20, 2017
Presidental Piestewa
Weather: 62º, sunny
Time: 26 minutes
About this Hike: This has been a rainy, cool weekend. The past few years February's arrival has brought with it highs in the 90's. The fact our short Phoenix winter is hanging on in 2017 is nothing I'll complain about.
Despite some lingering clouds, this morning the sun was shining through. Lower temps were all but cancelled out by the notable higher humidity. I believe this is the reason for a 26 minute time to the summit.
This is the first year I've had President's Day as a paid company holiday—as did the rest of the Valley, it seems. The crowding on the mountain was bad at times today.. On the ascent there were periods of peace and respite. However, on the descent I couldn't get into a good cadence. I had other hikers constantly nipping at my heels, while less experienced hikers on their way up would stop and block the trail in front of me. Needless to say, I was grouchy by the time this one was finished.
BUT, I had to put on a happy face... Walking back to my car I ran into one of my neighbors who happened to be searching for a parking spot to do her own hike. She graciously drove me back to the residential area where I was parked. I suggested she park there as well, considering the number of cars circling the main lots....
Time: 26 minutes
About this Hike: This has been a rainy, cool weekend. The past few years February's arrival has brought with it highs in the 90's. The fact our short Phoenix winter is hanging on in 2017 is nothing I'll complain about.
Despite some lingering clouds, this morning the sun was shining through. Lower temps were all but cancelled out by the notable higher humidity. I believe this is the reason for a 26 minute time to the summit.
This is the first year I've had President's Day as a paid company holiday—as did the rest of the Valley, it seems. The crowding on the mountain was bad at times today.. On the ascent there were periods of peace and respite. However, on the descent I couldn't get into a good cadence. I had other hikers constantly nipping at my heels, while less experienced hikers on their way up would stop and block the trail in front of me. Needless to say, I was grouchy by the time this one was finished.
BUT, I had to put on a happy face... Walking back to my car I ran into one of my neighbors who happened to be searching for a parking spot to do her own hike. She graciously drove me back to the residential area where I was parked. I suggested she park there as well, considering the number of cars circling the main lots....
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