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| Hiking | 4.90 Miles |
1,398 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.90 Miles | 2 Hrs 30 Mns | | 1.96 mph |
| 1,398 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Excellent hike! Today's hike was suppose to start from the Via Linda TH but both parking lots were packed so we switched to plan B. The 124th was as busy but at least plenty of parking.
There is about a mile or so of trail coming up out of the was that is rocky, ankle-turning, and a little annoying but by the time you really start ascending it's beautiful, pleasant and fast moving if you're looking for cardio. We were here for cardio so we tried to keep the pace up, but I being me could not resist taking pictures.
Camelback Mountain were unique on this hike, the angle, and the proximity. The flora were showing their colors, too. The way the slope of the terrain on both sides of the trail tighten up and feeling like you're hiking on bridge was fun. Made it seem like there was nothing but trail, cactus and flowers moving to the unseen presence of the wind. Thank heavens for a nice breeze.
We intended to only reach the first saddle and then turn around but the view of the next saddle from across the valley was to tempting so we checked our water, then pushed on. This is the section of trail that can be seen from Shea, and for 15 years I've wanted to be up here looking back. It's pretty awesome. An odd note, right near the switch back in this section there was clearly a packrat nesting just off trail but also shortly after the smell of a skunk?! I am sure there here, but I've only ever smelled them off highways, and only ever seen them up in higher in country, the closest being Prescott.
The extra push for the second saddle paid off. The views to the east probably make for beautiful sunrise here on Sunrise Trail.
Luckily were out of time because the switchbacks going up Sunrise Peak looked like zero fun. We had to get back, because it is that time of year again. It's the Pakistan Kite Festival in Fountain Hills. That was a blast, too! I even managed to get my kite in the air this time. And the MC's always loves singing along to his music, it's good times. |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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| The Tree of Understanding, dazzling, straight, and simple, sprouts by the spring called Now I Get It. - Wislawa Szymborska, "Utopia" |
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