What nice afternoon for a hike in the McDowell Mountain Preserve. We hit the trailhead about 1pm and was met with a nice little breeze that stayed with us throughout the entire hit.
Only seen one hiker and two bike riders out today.
This was a very relaxing little hike that Rowdy and I both enjoyed.

Date hike - wanted something with not much elevation gain after hiking earlier in the day. Cloud cover made hike nice and luckily no gnats. Noticed an old AZGF water catchment basin off Turpentine trail that I had never noticed before. Just seems so silly and all it does is attract biting bugs and millions of bees. I think all the animals have lived just fine in the desert without human-created watering holes for a long time. Although maybe the real purpose is to attract animals to hunt them.

Saw 5 jack rabbits and heard/saw one very loud Diamondback rattlesnake. He was right by trail's edge and so loud - I scooted away then looked back and Brad with headphones on didn't hear it and was about to walk right near the snake as he's all coiled up and ready to strike. I yelled at Brad to move over - - and all was well. Snake stayed coiled/raised up but then settled down and stopped rattling.

Changed in parking lot and then had dinner at Mesquite Grill at McDowell golf club. There is a hamburger with bacon and pulled pork and cheese that is out of this world good. I love sitting out on their patio watching sunset.

Wildflowers
barrel cactus blooms here and there - - few marigolds too

Well it was beautiful day to be out on a trail. This wasn't the hike I planned, but it's the one my ankle would let me do. The trails were really busy with bike riders and only a few hikers.
The Preserve itself is really beautiful this time of year and not so much as flowers but all the other life it has.
This is really a beautiful place to see.

ATC challenge update: 131.6/133.4

Almost there for ATC! Last few years Brad has planned Thursday days off from work for date hikes and this is our first of 2015. He yields to me to pick the hike and I try to find areas that he hasn't seen before.

It was a very chilly and windy 45 degrees at Granite Mtn trailhead and we layered up with several hats and coats.

Powerline Rd #2 Granite Mtn Granite Mtn Loop Branding Iron Cholla Mtn loop Balanced Rock (lunch at balanced rock) Chuck Wagon Powerline Rd #2 Black Hill Turpentine 136th Street Express the road where Brad picked me up like a hitchhiker

Saw only 5 other people all day. Wind was killer. Branding Iron is pretty and you can see the double crested saguaro over on nearby Coyote Canyon trail. Love the juniper trees on Balanced Rock - crazy to see juniper in MSP (but is 2856 feet elevation).

Went home - took quick nap - picked up kids - ballet class - then with kids straight to community center hot tub spa to soak muscles. Awesome day.

Just a beautiful morning to get my 500 miles in for the year. Rowdy and I hit the road about 11:30am. Jump in my car and change my jump drive to start the drive. Wow it started out playing Joe Cocker so that is what we listen to going both ways. It was a sad day when Joe Cocker died such a great entertainer.
When we got to the trail the parking lot was about half full. I only saw a few hikers out, but a few more bike riders and horse back riders. It was a real nice day out and some nice views from this trails.

Kids with babysitter - just the two of us on a date hike. Was really cold and windy at the start. I had on three layers and was glad. Had some off/on spitting rain. Clouds made for a beautiful sunset. Went to dinner in Cave Creek and then had dessert at Isabella's Kitchen (which was overflowing with Phoenix Open golf fans). Great evening.