There was finally some rain in the forecast that was coming into the valley around 8-9pm. So Chumley and I met over by Squaw Peak and decided to make the Circ Loop and extended it around to the Quartz Trail. The first 5+ miles were dry but we could see rain off to the west. It slowly worked its way over to us and started raining as we hiked back on the Mohave Connector Trail. The skies opened and a solid rain fell. Flashes of lightning illuminated the area which was really cool and not scary. We completed the loop and were soaked even with rain gear. Felt great hiking in the rain again!

As it looked more and more promising that magic sky water would actually fall, I decided I wanted to be outside to enjoy what would apparently amount to mostly just a 1-2 hour frontal passage. It seemed to be lingering out in western AZ, so I decided to wait a while for a late start in hopes of catching the rain.

We were still mostly early. The night was great anyway. Low clouds and city lights eliminated the need for headlamps. It was 75 degrees at 8pm on January 10. There was a very nice breeze.

As hoped however, the front finally arrived with fierce winds, a couple of too-close-for-comfort lightning strikes, driving rain, running water, puddles, and all around good times. Managed to get back to the parking lot after wading through a few shallow rivers and captured the requisite selfie. Somehow the parking lots were totally empty.

I will never understand why people here bitch about the lack of rain all the time and yet don't take advantage of it when it actually happens.

got out late today after working some overtime this morning, a nap and finishing christmas shopping
haven't done this loop in awhile
both 8A and 8B are nice trails with some elevation gain
nice little rainstorm at work this morning
glad i was inside

try to hike somewhere other than south mountain on sundays
failed to get a parking spot at 32nd & lincoln, so went to the 304 trailhead
nature circumference voaz 1A irregular link circ 1A yates quartz ridge ruth hamilton
the idea was to hit 1B and 1C, otherwise just random wandering around
not too busy on any of these
the only part i didn't care for was 1A near the freeway
cool to start, warming up nicely by the end
met my brother and his girlfriend for tots and wings after

Pulled in to the 32nd street TH about 430 for an afternoon jaunt. I put this loop together a bit on the fly to add up a few trails in the Preserve I had not been on before. My GPS track left off a little chunk for some reason, so I adjusted the stats a bit. I took the 8A to the 8B, and then up the Mohave Ridgeline. I was expecting all off trail for this bit, but there was a use trail for a very good portion of this. Great little ridgeline, packs a lot of punch for such a short trail. I connected up with the Mohave trail and up, and then circled back around the 202 connector. The rain started just as I had gotten on the return leg, and it became a downpour very shortly thereafter. Got out my rain jacket to keep my pack dry, by the time I made it back to the truck there was a good 2-3" of flowing water on the trail. Good stuff! Too bad the rain did not make it up to my house, but it was certainly nice to be out in it, even if my boots are soaked through for a few days.

needed a longer training hike today
all of my hikes have been five or six miles lately, or less when doing a peak
haven't hiked from 32nd and lincoln trailhead in months
was a little surprised to get a parking spot at 7:20
quartz ridge to lv yates
met a gal who said she just got stung by a bee ("just one bee")
thought that was odd, so in looking around, saw quite a few bees swarming about in a wash - must bee a hive in the rocks
if you look at my track, you can see where i tiptoed around on the other side of the trail
then missed the cutoff to the peak 2429 trail, so continued down to trail 100
up to 2429, since i didn't hike camelback or piestewa this week
back down to 100, then a social trail up to 1A
made a loop of irregular link, the circumference trail and voaz, then 1A to 304
stopped at the drinking fountain to get a big drink and refill my water bottle
five minutes out of the way seems a fair trade to avoid being on the news
backtracked to 8B, which was slow, then easy back down 8A
nice hike, had fun, quite a few people out all morning
nothing new, but a new combination of some of my favorites
hit double digits for the first time in weeks
aeg seems high

went out for a 6 mile hike thinking of the 8, 304, Irregular, VOAZ, back to TH. ended up doing:
8 from west side of TH but didn't see any signs for it as I hiked along so took various paths heading SE as I know where I needed to be and the current trail was not getting me there. It would be hard if you didn't know where you wanted to go and tried to figure it out while hiking from this side altho maybe it eventually took you on the 100 going east to the 8 turnoff.

Finally found the 8, that was an interesting way to get to it and unbeknownst to me at that time, the "nothing ventured, nothing gained" tour began. I continued up the 8 making good progress as I worried how much of my hiking mojo I lost due to travel. Down the other side I went before you turn west and down into a wash. It's always a little confusing when you get into the wash and instead of veering north I saw a trail coming south out of the wash so I took it thinking it veered back north... but it didn't. I consulted HAZel and decided, "what the heck" the worse I could end up is over by the Squaw Peak TH.

So I continued on my merry way (saw one bike rider and one hiker) having no idea if I was on a marked trail. I thot it would eventually take me around this mountain and maybe down the trail I had spotted from the other side. Eventually I ended up at a saddle and a trail marker that said 8A. Well how 'bout that. I think Joe had mentioned this trail recently, the old Quartz Ridge Trail. Always wanted to take that. Here at the saddle and on the way up 8B I ran into about a 1/2 dozen hikers. I hiked up the 8B to another saddle and then headed down the other side thinking I would be able to hook up with another trail I saw way below and head over to the 304.

Well 8B is a pretty long hill, it would be a good climb from the opposite side for sure and it seemed it went on and on. It was a bit slippery and steep in places. Finally I got to the bottom and guess where I was... the north end of the Squaw Peak TH where I had been a month or so ago and had to retreat from my circumference hike. I was a bit surprised but on I went taking the right turn at the 304 and headed north. You drop down into a deep wash and you have the option of heading west as you come out or up these rather large steps continuing north. I opted for the big steps and continued the climb up to the saddle where the junction of the 8 and 304 are. I think I recall doing the 8 to the 304 awhile ago.

On the way down the north side I took a path that led to the west rather than staying on the 304. After going further west than I thot, I eventually joined up with the 304 and up, up I went. Here was another test to see how being out of the hiking mode would effect me. Delightfully, I did pretty well; the trail didn't seem quite as steep or long as I anticipated. I sat for about two minutes on the bench at the top relishing my success before heading back down, over to the Irregular C and back up the VOAZ (love that trail). The VOAZ seemed MUCH longer than when I did it about a month ago.

Then back down the 304 to the 1a back to the TH but nope, I hit one of those darn horseshoe trails and tracked way further west than I wanted. I finally found a crossover trail that took me back toward the TH. It seems to have been an old road at one time. I eventually reached the 100 and stayed on it except to wander to take some saguaro pictures. I decided to take the connector trail (2429) back to the TH to make it more loopy. By the time all was said and done, instead of 6 miles, I did 8.4 with some respectable AEG and felt pretty good .

Not too many hikers and bikers on the trails this Mother's Day (felt weird when someone wished me a Happy Mother's Day as I'm not a mother...though my brothers think I am from time to time ). The temp in the high 70s with an occasional breeze was quite nice as were the puffy clouds scattered about. The trails were all in pretty good shape except that 8B was a bit slippery in sections. There's lots of miscellaneous unmarked trails out there one could venture out on just for something different.

This is my 3rd favorite hike in the preserves after the Summit Trail & VOAZ. I cleaned up my 11 year old description and renamed it so you don't need a degree in trailology. Still more people out than anticipated as the mercury rises. Which is nice as it's really in its prime with the Palo Verdes in full yellow buzz bloom.

It's been 6 years since I've hiked 8A, at least from the trailhead. Headed in before the afternoon rush. Passed by a few as ~2mph seems to be my top speed. Turned around at the saddle. Contemplated a short jaunt up Ruth to the saddle to the most beautiful mountain ever to grace this vector of the milky way. Perhaps another day. Yes I cried too.

Heading down the after work rush was coming in strong. Most friendlier than you get a half mile to the west. Some sweating like they just ran a marathon. Passed @bobp's pleated skirt gal heading down.

Needed to be home noonish, so I worked up this loop to get in a few miles, a bit of AEG and to hit some new trails.

A 6:45 start had me as the 2nd car in the 40th St. lot, with temps in the high 30's. I made my way over to the west side of the Circumference Trail. I saw just a few people, until I hit the Summit Trail. I saw all types climbing to the top, including Darth Vader. Also, I think there was a Yoga convention in town.

All the trails on the east side were new to me. Mohave, Mohave Connector, Quartz Ridge, LV Yates. These took me over to 2429 trail, or Twobit as it's now signed. This trail was almost as busy as the Piestewa Summit trail.

A fun little hike in perfect weather.