With the first part of tax season over, I used TrailDex (shameless plug) to find a hike. Groom Creek Loop looked good for distance, AEG, Elevation, Temperature and driving distance from my home.

The parking lot was full. I went counter-clockwise. I passed a group from Sun City and then a group from Pebble Creek Retirement Community. Strange for me to feel like the youngest person on the trail. Nice easy climb, went down the Isabella Trail #377 just to see what I could see. Went up the Spruce Mountain Fire Look Out. Had a very nice chat with Suzie. She has been there 7 years. Nice tread on the trail - sandy in some places, leafy in others, not too rocky. Two marathoners on the trail training for the Whiskey Row Marathon. I mountain biker walking his bike up but looking forward to speeding down.

Perfect weather. Upper 60's starting at the TH, lower 60's and windy at the Look Out. Lower 70's on completion.

I had thought about coming home down Yarnell Hill and seeing Rocky the Frog. But this being Earth Day, I figured Rocky the Frog was probably not an appropriate symbol. So I went to Arcosanti. I had a very nice personal guided tour from Alysha - the director of Guest Services. I first met Paolo in Spring of 1967 when a friend & I biked from Encanto to Cosanti. Dreamy Draw was a windy little 2 lane road and there was nothing around Cosanti. Now Dreamy Draw is a massive freeway and MacMansions have invaded the Cosanti neighborhood. I hiked the Visitor Trail down off the Arcosanti Mesa, across the draw and up the mesa on the other side.

I'm hiking to lose some weight I put on stress eating during tax season, so no Mexican Food, Beer or Pizza updates on this trip. And it's Chol Hamoed Pesach so I can't eat any of that anyway.