HikeArizona.COM

hi,

I am new to Pheonix but have really started to like all there is to do outdoors. I did some hiking this last spring in the superstitions, san tans and sedona but, now that its gotten hot, I dont really think its good to go out there especially alone, its just not safe:) anyway

I was wondering if there are hikes in the area that can still be done in the heat? maybe something higher up? Ive been reading alot about the 4peaks areas. anything there I can do in the heat. I have been up to sedona and while its really nice I dont really have the time to go there every weekend. So I was looking for something closeer. I think I would rather hike 4 hours in 90 degree heat then drive 3 hours to 3 hours back to get 80 degree heat. right now I just dont have the time to go that far for a day hike.

Dont get me wrong I am enjoying the heat but I have not had to hike 8 hours in rough terain when its 110 with 20 to 30 lbs on.

Piestewa, Peralta, Camelback/Echo Canyon, South Mountain, et.. You just need a good early start to beet the heat, I like to start out while it's still dark. I hear you about the driving, and the time it takes to get to other great hiking destinations, however, as your situation, time is not on my side.

Try nighthiking. Another alternative is to set up a base camp (vehicle camping) and day hike from your camp instead of driving for several hours and hiking then returning home. Somtimes I just visit a community a stay in a motel rome, check out the community and also day hike the area. You can get up early and hike some of the local trails but temps in the hgh80's and low 90's can also take a toll on your body if you are not use to it.

thanks for the replys.. I did not expect to hear back so soon

I have a vew problems with all the hiking I would like to do.. first is Im a single parent, I dont have much of a support base here in the Pheonix area so just getting everything in order so I can go is sometimes hard. I have tryed taking them with me and do sometimes but a mile or 2 of easy hiking is all they can handle at this point. Leaving with someone over a whole weekend is just not going to happen any time soon.. so.. I am limited to what I can do in a single day. for most of the year that is not a problem here.. but now that its summer I am having a harder and harder time finding places to go..

also sundays are out as I am involved with my church. So between work and church that leaves saturdays unless I make special plans,\.


I will check out some of the suggestions tho

Thanks

In response to AZ_Hiker's reply:

It was about a man that knew Karate. He was getting elderly though and with arthritis and such could not manage the high kicks like a young man anymore and asked for advice.

One wise karate master advised him to explore his strengths and not his weaknesses. If he could not kick high then he should become an expert in low kicks and sweeps to compensate and thus still gain even though it was not in everything.

In this vein, I recommend doing the close in hikes that take almost no time in driving. Thus you can spend more time hiking as you have already pointed out. Also, you can take alot more short hikes with your kids in between, thus strengthening your bond with them and also increasing their endurance, skill and possibly interest in the hobby.

The alta trail in South mountain is a nice hike for training as are Camelback and Squaw peak.

a big fat thumbs up on ellehcim's reply!

Focus on your strengths & put forth an honest effort to achieve your goals.

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Your closest cool weather escape to Queen Creek would be the Pinal Mountains by Globe. However they're probably restricted now due to fire risk. Even then an early start is key!

thanks ellehcim, or should I call you yoda?

I'm still trying to get used to the heat in Phoenix, too. The places I've been going are about 2 hour drives. I don't know if that's too far for you or not. Payson is an incredible area - lots of forests and creeks. I went to Prescott for the first time Saturday and it was very nice, too. Next weekend, I think I'm going to the Hassayampa River Preserve in Wickenburg, which is only 50 miles away.

Hope some of these are helpful.

In response to AZ_Hiker's reply:

ROFL!!!

You can call me yoda but most people call me *******!!!

I'd suggest Hieroglyphic Springs from Gold Canyon. It's a fairly short and easy hike with some great petroglyphs that kids of all ages will enjoy. I'd hit it at sunup or late evening. Sunup is a cooler hike although it starts to warm up on your way out. Evening is fun if you time it right. You need some light to see the petroglyphs but the trail back is a great place to watch the moon rise over the Superstitions and darkened cacti.

Gilbert Riparian Park, Phoenix Botanical Garden, Boyce Thompson State Park and the Mesa Southwest Museum, the kids will love the dinosaur exhibit with the flash flood. Like your hiking gear, mines Vietnam era.

Nighthiker had some really good ideas with the arboretum and the botanical gardens, that way you learn about the areas youre hiking in while youre hiking, and the southwest museum is really great now that all the remodelings done.
Another good place to hike might be around some of the lakes, its less than an hour to bartlett or to saguaro from phoenix. There are some good hikes around the edges of the lakes, and that way you have the added benefit of being able to jump in the water, always a hit with kids.

thanks guys and gals:)

I did not expect so many to get involved so quickly with a newcomer like me. What a great board.

thanks for the advice. I will chack in to all of these one by one. dont let that stop you from giving more ideas.

nighthiker, I have no Idea how old some of this gear is. the stuff in this picture is something I always wear no matter where I am(while hiking that is). it has my first aid, knife, AA x2 maglight, gun, canteen, and in one of the pouches in front, has binoc's, compus and some adds and ins I like to keep with me at all times. but I wear this kind of under my whatever pack I am taking. that way if I want to go explore someting I can drop my pack and go and still have some of the things that I would not want to get cought without.

but like I said I am always changing things around and I think I am going to drop the military canteen and add a ...more of a water bottle type carrier to the belt. its just more versitile and not as wide so it takes up less space on the belt.

when I went to rodgers canyon this worked out great. I droped my pack at the "campsite" that has the skillet hanging form the tree? if you know where that is.. the ruins are about 1 mile or so form there and although this trail is not real hard, the last mile or so I would say is the hardest. so I still had most of the important gear with me but its only about 8 to 10 lbs.

BTW.. I have lots of pics from rodgers canyon and other adventures at http://www.pbase.com/stich

Anyone interested in seeing some nice pictures should check out AZ_Hiker's pictures, they are really good, I was impressed. Picture taking is not one of my strong points, and I am pretty bad about remembering to even bring a camera along I think I'm going to start taking more pictures

I relly liked some of your pictures billy. dont sell yourself short:)

AZHiker

Cannot help on the day hiking near Phoenix, I am a bit further north. However;

Billy wrote:Anyone interested in seeing some nice pictures should check out AZ_Hiker's pictures, they are really good,

Took your advice Billy and scoped the pic's out. I love them coast pic's AZ_Hiker. Born and raised in Arizona, the first time I seen any coast was when I was 17 and in southern Cal. Did not care for it at first, but over time it grew on me. Now I have fond memories. Thanks for sharing hope to see more from ya, as well as you Billy.

Thanks Abe, same to you. I don't see you signed up for the HAZ BBQ, were you planning on going to this event? It would be great to meet you, I am really excited about the event, it will be nice to meet a lot of the members of HAZ.

Take Care,

Billy