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| Hiking | 4.26 Miles |
1,154 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.26 Miles | 2 Hrs 34 Mns | | 2.15 mph |
| 1,154 ft AEG | 35 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | For unknown reasons to me but not to everyone else on Planet Earth (see Joe Bartels comment below), the South Mountain Park's main road was closed near the park entrance, at the turn-off to the Environmental Education Center and Holbert TH. That likely explained the large crowds that gathered in the Holbert TH parking lot and swarmed nearby rocks. A goodly number even tried Holbert for a ways. Counted 86 hikers on my ascent, 56 in the first half mile from the city water tank. Even as sunset neared, 41 were headed up as I came down. No fun hiking with that many folks on a narrow, rocky trail.
Rather than hike the complete Holbert Trail, I took the spur up to Dobbins Lookout. Found no one up there, the parking lot absolutely empty. Utter silence, the purpose of "Silent Sunday," in retrospect. Stopped at the Dobbins sign and calibrated my GPS's altimeter at the stated elevation of 2,330'. Great views of downtown Phoenix highrises in the spotlight of the sun on a partly-clouded afternoon. The trails were lined by brilliant display of yellow brittlebush flowers with some help from creosote. Can't say I enjoyed the hike, but I did need some elevation after a few days of flat-landing it. Another fantastic Arizona sunset. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
Nothing showy, but many small flowers like phacelia and fiddleneck in the higher regions. Saw a few lupine at the waterfall crossing. Oh, and a sprinkling of globemallow. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
