The Phoenix area has a multitude of hiking trails and it’s no wonder that National Geographic recognized this area as one of the best hiking areas and that it has also been recognized as one of the Top Ten Urban Destinations for Nature Lovers. There are literally hundreds of trails within 50 miles and these vary in length from short nature hikes to the Arizona Trail which runs the length of the state. There are dozens of trailheads throughout the city making these trails easy to hike in a morning, afternoon, before class or after work. Some are extremely busy while others are very secluded. We’ve hiked many of them and are looking forward to finding many more this winter.
But for our first hike this winter we chose the Pass Mountain hike, challenging but with amazing views. We both like this trail and coincidently chose it as the first hike we took last year also. It is a loop hike around Usery Mountain and both Gary and I confessed that we didn’t like the beginning or the end which are just walks across desert washes. The middle which climbs to the Pass and the loop around the mountain on the wilderness side is what we like best.
We got to the trailhead about 9:00, and, since it was a Saturday, there were dozens of cars in the parking lot. And, why oh why was the Women’s Room locked? This calls for teamwork and 2 other women and I comandeered the Men’s Room, standing guard in rotation until we were all done.
We climbed to the Pass and took a break. Here one can look west and see Phoenix and its suburbs, shrouded in smog, look east and it’s all wilderness with nary a sign of humans.
And, looming over it all are the Superstition Mountains.
Aged saguaros stand tall as if guarding the trails.
while jumping chollas lurk quietly at your feet.
We finished our hike in at 1:30 and headed home.
There, Gary spent some time pulling these little pokey things out of the bottom of his pack with his pliers. Where he had gotten these is a question. But - we’re glad that the pliers are not in my hand pulling the thorns out of a much more sensative spot.
7.5 995'
We got our "ocean" fix by driving to Oceanside from Temecula. It's still there!!
ReplyDeleteWasn't it beautiful? And, thanks for not sending a picture to make me more envious. We're looking forward to seeing it next year.
ReplyDeleteThose little pokey things are ones worst nightmare...they jump, so there's no telling where he picked them up at. Our first encounter was in Quartzsite, AZ when I turned around and saw our Max (dog) covered in them...and I do mean covered. The poor thing even had them in his mouth where he tried to get them out of his feet - unfortunately we had no pliers with us and had to use our hands to get them out. Hope he was able to get them ALL out, so they don't get in his skin on the next hike.
ReplyDeletePoor Max. That sounds awful and pulling them out must have hurt too. And, in his mouth also. It must have must have hurt something dreadful.
ReplyDeleteBoth Gary and I have had them in our socks and shoes. When I got one, it felt as if a rubber hammer had hit my ankle. But we're humans and understand cactus. Poor pets do not. I've seen little booties that pets can wear hiking, they help both with the roughness and the cactus.