Tom's Thumb

Weather:  75º & sunny

About this hike:  I’ve heard so much about what an interesting rock escarpment Tom’s Thumb is.  I’ve also heard the recently constructed Tom’s Thumb trailhead in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve makes a hike to it easy.  I just had to check it out for myself.

The trailhead, like the rest of McDowell Sonoran, is nothing short of amazing considering it’s free.  Make sure you look at the maps on City of Scottsdale’s website and follow them carefully to find the trailhead.  It’s on a remote portion of 128^th St. way up in North Scottsdale.  Assuming you take the 101N, exit at Pima Rd. (the second Pima exit; there are two) and drive north for a while.  Turn right at Happy Valley Rd, right at Ranch Gate Rd, and one more right onto 128th St.  Reason I give these directions is because Google Maps, GPS systems, etc, will lead astray.  If you enter the address for the trailhead, you’ll end up on a ride through a gated community and to another gate with a big map posted that gives correct directions to Tom’s Thumb Trailhead.  Apparently this is a common problem.  Also note, Google will warn you that 128th St. is unpaved.  Since the construction of the new trailhead, this has changed.  It’s not great pavement, but it’s not dirt road either—easily passable in a sedan. 

Trailhead features paved parking, latrine toilets, interpretive signage, and seating areas.  There is no water at this time, but I noticed hookups on the building, so this may be coming.

I grabbed a map from one of the many boxes at the trailhead and hit Tom’s Thumb trail.  A challenging uphill climb, Tom’s Thumb is very smooth, well-graded trail.  I will admit the actual escarpment was nothing too special, but still glad I’ve done it.  After passing its namesake, Tom’s Thumb trail continues on for several miles and the desert scenery dramatically changes.  The soil shifts from sandy to a red color and from desert scrub to desert grassland.  However, I didn’t continue far beyond this. 

Returning to the trailhead, I also wanted to check out Marcus Landslide trail.  This path goes on for a few miles around what appears to be just more piles of rocks.  Interpretive signs along the way explain that this was a massive rockslide that literally toppled parts of the McDowell Mountains.  It also made some interesting rock formations.  The trail ends in a short loop and then returns to the trailhead.  Amazing views of mountains to the north and Superstition Mtn. and Weaver’s Needle to the east prevail throughout.  

Tom's Thumb up close

Tom's Thumb trailhead from high up on the trail 

Submarine Rock - Marcus Landslide trail

First Camelback Climb of 2013 & Probably Last for a While...

Hike time:  35 min. to summit

Weather:  ~40º & sunny

About this hike:  Tough!! I don’t know if I’m out of shape after having not done this the past few weeks, or if the colder weather got to me or what. Parking lot was full, but it wasn't too busy and I didn't have to deal with traffic jams and loads of tourists. That said, my time today was awful. I experienced pain in my throat, ears, and head which I can only attribute to the cold.

Upon reaching the summit I got to enjoy the Christmas tree (a little late!) that I've seen every year now since 2011.  However, I was sick to my stomach, and also found myself breathing heavier than normal today.  It's disappointing when you consider I was conditioned to make this hike in the 100º heat of summer. Regardless, this is one of the last weekends to tackle Camelback Echo Canyon trail before it is closed and majorly improved, including the parking nightmare. A little pain is definitely worth it in the end.

Weather's (a little) Cooler - Trails Even More Crowded

Hike time:  32 minutes to the summit

Weather:  65°, sun

About this hike:  Cooler weather, a week after Thanksgiving, the fact the trail's closing in little over a month—these are things that spur hikers on to Echo Canyon.  Needless to say, I took the shuttle today.  Was a crowded, but uneventful hike.  I was able to force my way thru the crowds and rarely stopped, so taking more than 30 minutes was a disappointment.  Summit was crowded and obnoxious...I heard an attempt at a capella group beltin out the Titanic theme song, witnessed an imitation of J.D. & Turk's (from Scrubs) pastime, "Eagle", and found some lost keys on the way down.  Glad they weren't mine.  I did report them to the ranger...such a nice guy :-)

Cholla & Baggage

Hike time:  40+ minutes to summit

Weather:  ~73°, sun to twilight

About this hike:  Went with a friend, and we couldn't get parking at Echo Canyon.  We found a spot on Invergordon Road and took the Cholla Trail up.  I hate that trail.  It's no challenge, and it's boring compared Echo.  He was tired and slow, and overall, I feel this hike is hardly worth mentioning.  Had a group of PHX EMTs in front of us mapping out the Cholla trail, as they expect increased traffic (and likely injuries/rescues!) in upcoming months.  Echo Canyon will close in January while a much overdo reconfiguration of the parking area is completed.  I hope this alleviates some of the cluster that is the current parking situation.

Thanks Again NFL...

Hike time:  30 minutes to the summit!!

Weather:  90°, sun

About this hike:  Parking, while crowded on this warm fall afternoon, wasn't impossible...thank you football games.  I nabbed a spot on Echo Canyon Drive.  Today's hike proved my worthiness in an elite club:  those who can make it to the summit in 30 minutes.  This should've been an easy climb, after nearly an entire week of 5-10 mile daily hikes in Sedona.  For whatever reason, however, my legs were feeling the exhaustion today.  I have no idea why.  Regardless, I pushed on to the sparsely populated summit where my favorite area of smooth sandstone was available.  Sprawling out and catching some sun for about 20 minutes had me good to go for the hike back down.  

Where the Pavement Ends...

Weather:  Mid 70s, warm in the sunshine

About this hike:  I took a Jeep tour on Tuesday, which inspired me to check this trail out, as it parallels a popular Jeep route.  Trailhead is along Schnebly Hill Rd., right before the pavement turns to dirt.  The Munds Trail is a nearly four mile out-and-back.  The scenery along the way is absolutely beautiful, taking you through dry washes; past what must be an amazing, roaring waterfall after a rain; and up to Merry-Go-Round rock.  Scenery along this hike also includes phenomenal views of Snoopy Rock and other red rock formations.  The trail is a bit tricky to follow at first, but like most Sedona trails maintained by the U.S. Forest Service, wire cages full of rocks are abundantly placed as trail markers.  Along the way is a picnic area with tables and benches.  The trail basically parallels Schnebly Hill Rd. and Jeeps of every color and tour operator—red, yellow, pink (of course!)—are constantly whizzing by.  Several times the trail actually crosses the road as it winds up toward the lookout point on the Mogollon Rim.  This trail ended at Schnebly Hill Road Trail, which I didn't bother pursuing.  All in all, this is a great hike that isn't too strenous.  There's some uphill, but nothing too challenging. 

Failed to Ring the Bell on Top...

Weather:  low 70s, breezy

About this hike:  Parked at the Bell Rock trailhead just off of route 179.  I followed the Bell Rock loop trail to a summit trail.  There were numerous other hikers trying to make the ascent, and I saw several already atop one of the spires of this rotund red sandstone formation.  I didn't have much success.  Not only is finding the trail to the summit tricky, it's on slick red rocks.  The trail frequently vanishes, as after a certain point it's no longer marked and isn't regularly maintained.  I reached the vortex point and sat for a while.  Can't say I felt anything that you're supposed to feel in a vortex...just insane fear considering if I fell Bell Rock would be a little redder with my blood...