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| Arizona Canal - Central to Glendale Ave, AZ | |
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| | Arizona Canal - Central to Glendale Ave, AZ | | | |
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Arizona Canal - Central to Glendale Ave, AZ
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| Hiking | 5.70 Miles |
300 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.70 Miles | 2 Hrs 52 Mns | | 2.67 mph |
| 300 ft AEG | 44 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | Parked at same spot on Ruth & Central Ave, but unlike on the 7th, I walked east rather than west from the bridge on Central. Crossed under the following streets using pedestrian tunnels: 7th Street at .7 miles, Northern at 1.14, 12th at 1.84, 16th St at 2.48 and came to the turn-around point at Glendale Ave at 2.66. Hiked along the left side of the canal where the tunnels are located.
The stretch from Central to Northern is one of the prettiest canal segments I've yet to walk. Nice homes on both sides, stone seating areas looking out on the canal, wide asphalt path (though I chose to walk in the gravel area to avoid dealing with bikers), large duck population and the historic eucalyptus grove just above Northern, the one with the cellphone tower poking out of it. South of that segment is clean, just not as pretty.
Ran into a large flock of Ring-Necked Ducks just around the first bend at .15 mi. Counted 47. Why they're called Ring-Necked I don't know. But they are handsome little black birds with white sides and a white ring around the bill. Also saw some scattered Mallard pairs. Strange. On the 7th, I found a large group of Mallards on the west side of Central behind Sunnyslope HS athletic fields and some coots and only a few Ring-Necked. Two separate congretations, about a half-mile apart.
The eucalyptus trees must stand 70 feet high with light pastel bark and almost white limbs. It was very nice to come around yet another bend to see them stretched out there. A sign tells you their history. First planted in 1920s as windbreaks to protect orange groves. These "yukes" apparently replaced cottonwoods because they use less water. Most of the trees are gone, but this grove is protected and maintained for historical reasons.
The total mileage (5.7 miles) is longer than it should be for a round trip. At Glendale Ave, I walked across the street to the corner McDonald's for coffee and a bite to eat.
On the way back, I counted 20 bikers, 13 hikers and 12 joggers in the hour it took to get back to Central. I'm very cautious when entering the tunnels. Bikers come flying by with no warning.
In all, a nice hike. For the most part, I forgot I was hiking in a heavily-populated area, looking up east as I often did to Piestewa Peak which "grows" in size the closer you get to Glendale Ave. |
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