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| Hiking | 1.20 Miles |
93 AEG |
| | Hiking | 1.20 Miles | | | |
| 93 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | My hike at Lake Pleasant gave me some nice lake views, and a bit more.
I started at the Cottonwood trail head, which sits right off the small parking lot just after the pay booth at the northwest park entrance. The Cottonwood is a longer way to the lake, adding a mile or so (i.e. one could drive down), but provides a quiet walk through some rolling open forest, and some simple views of mountains in the distance. In other words, it adds a bit more.
I started just as the sun came up, in about 30 degree weather. That meant the night air had been cool enough to create a frost. So I was greeted by a thin sheen of ice crystals across ground and on the leaves. And the low rising sun put a soft glistening on the crystals. So again a bit more.
As I hiked, I went past various viewing benches. These show up in a number of Phoenix area parks. They are generally provided by benefactors in honor of one or more deceased relatives, friends or compatriots. I like to include them in pictures, with no one sitting in them, to remind us of people in our lives who have passed away. Those people are not here to sit with us, so the empty bench represents that, but we are still hear embodying what they have given us and others, so in spirit they are sitting in the bench. The thoughts and the benches add a bit more.
From Pipeline, I connected to the Yavapai Point Trail, which took me to the overlook on the top of a modest hill on the western shore. This vantage point offers good long-distance views across the lake to the mountains beyond. These views I would consider the main event.
Back down, I hiked further south via Pipeline Canyon trail, just to the point where the trail crosses an inlet. While not a terribly scenic structure, the floating bridge across the inlet provides nice vantage point for viewing and photographing. So I put this in the bucket of getting a bit more.
Then back, and an unanticipated siting. Wild horses and burrows do roam various parks, but I don’t count on seeing them. But good luck struck, and on an opposing hill three horse (more likely some variation of mules or burrows) stood reasonably serenely, eyeing it seemed the passing hikers. So a bit more.
The hike ran about 7.5 miles round trip, refreshing in the cool AZ winter, and rather enchanting, with about 1000 feet accumulated elevation change. Not in the category of dramatic or taxing in difficulty, but overall still invigorating.
I do keep in mind these type lakes often exist due to dams, which pose a mixed impact on nature. They disrupt the natural rhythm of a river, but can generate environmentally friendly hydroelectric power. |
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