We both had plans for the day, so decided to meet in the middle of our respective parts of town for a quick hike. Did a simple loop starting from 7th Avenue, went up the backside of North Mountain and timed it just right to see the sunrise from the top of the peak. Went down the front side, hopped on #101 to loop back to trail #100 and took that back to our cars. Did see a nice, well fed rattlesnake cruising up alongside the paved portion of #44. Despite the crowds of people on #44, this snake didn't seem to care and just kept moving along.

Looks like someone re-did the trail on the backside of North Mountain since the last time I was on it.

Last but not least, the North Mountain owl is still there. We saw it flying around. First time I saw it was a few years ago and I always enjoy bumping into it. Looks like the owl from Rush's "Fly By Night" album cover.

Borrowed sisters car and headed out at the buttcrack of dawn to hike N Mtn.

Checked HAZ for directions and saw this North-Shaw loop so said ah heck why not.

Started at 7th Ave the headed for North via maxine and a use trail...Tons of wildlife out at 6am!!

((Sitting in the parking lot eating breakfast as I type this now, lots of human life out around 9am... ))

Took North National down to the 7th st lot then headed for Shaw Butte.

The views from Shaw Butte were agreeable this morning with sunrise blinding me on my way up and back to the car.

Spotted 3 coyotes off to one side as I neared the Parking lot, strange they'd be so close to the Parking lot unless they're trash diggers?
Haven't been out this way in years! Felt great especially after I over did it a few days ago in White Tank.
Considering taking a peak at Squaw before lunch today... We shall see.

Only had time for a quick hike, so I wanted to give this one a try. A few of my friends go hike this stretch a few times a week, I have been on part of this trail before but never from this side. I parked by the Quechan picnic area off of 7th street and Peoria to start hiking. Very steep and fairly rugged stretch of trail, so much more fun than the paved way! Got in the quick up and back and then off to pick up the kids.

I had not done this hike since early last year, and I needed to get home a little early so this was the one. Started off from the 7th ave and Peoria trailhead about 4:30. I always like going up the spur ridge just south of Shaw Butte and then connecting with the road from there. There are now social trails almost the whole way, seems that more people are going this way now too. I tagged the mini peak with the towers and headed up to the tallest Shaw Butte towers, I wanted to make sure and make it all the way to the top so Chumley wouldn't call me out for missing the true peak of another mountain again... I had seen only one hiker to this point, but passed a bunch heading down the east side of Shaw Butte, and then up the paved section of North. Came down the backside of the #44 trail which is probably my favorite part of this loop. Temps were hot but not excruciating. Not much life out there right now, even the Creosote are pretty browned up. I really hope that this upcoming week of 110+ can bring a decent monsoon season.

It was nice to do a different trail. Got my heart rate going climbing North Mountain. Lots of people on the trail in the middle of the day in the middle of the week. Even saw a guy hiking up the mountain with a huge parrot on his shoulders. This is the second time in two weeks I've seen someone hiking with their parrot. I did not realize they make such great hiking partners.

I had an early dismissal from work and decided to hit North & Shaw mountains. I started from the 7th Ave TH and went southeast to the Maxine Lakin Trail. I followed that and connected onto a use trail that lead to the summit of North Mountain. From the top I dropped down the North Mtn National Trail on the southeast side of the mountain. This drops you down to the parking along 7th st. Once there I headed north and circled around and connected onto the Shaw Butte trail via Trail 100. I made quick time up Shaw following the road portion and then dropped down the south side returning to my jeep at the parking area.

I wanted to explore more of North Mountain. I started from the 7th Ave Trailhead and climbed the southern route. From there I dropped down the southeastern route and looped around back to the top via the road. Afterward I headed over to Thunderbird High School to see FOTG’s wrestling team compete.

I did the dirt half, from the lowest parking area, which meant I had to find the trail. First time here, and both a later day start and most importantly my knee meant I couldn't do much more. The swelling is down greatly, and I can walk on it, but both up and down hill travel irritated it, mostly below the patella, on the upper tibia, which makes sense as that is where the impact was. I'm concerned about next week, and a planned trip back to northern Arizona.

In the valley this evening so decided to hit an exercise hike. Started from 7th Ave TH at 8pm (still 100°). Took #306 up Shaw Butte and back through the inner basin. Connected to #100 briefly before jumping on #101 to the paved road and up North Mtn. Took #44 down and walked to the Scramble parking lot where I had a ride waiting for me. Enjoyed the night hiking and watching the lightning show to the south and east.

Early evening hike. Great time to be out here as the trail is in the shade most of the way. 2x up the main North Mountain side, then walked around the basin a bit before it started getting dark. Saw a huge western diamondback, about 4-5ft, just slithering right across the main North Mountain trail and went over the side. Several people stopped and watched it. I swear, I keep seeing rattlers in the most unlikely places this year.