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| Hiking | 7.09 Miles |
454 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.09 Miles | 2 Hrs 29 Mns | | 2.86 mph |
| 454 ft AEG | | | | |
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| Partners |
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none
[ show ]
| no partners | | A couple of days after my previous hike in Estrella Mountain Regional Park, I took a walk around my neighborhood. The first mile, no problem. But then my right knee started feeling wonky. The further I went, the more it hurt. By the time I finished the second mile, I could barely walk, it hurt so bad. 
Without hiking, I have nothing: Hiking keeps me relatively healthy, relatively sane, and fills my time writing the post-hike blog and editing the video. I have to admit: I was scared.
Long story short, I got my knees x-rayed and my doctor recommended Osteo Bi-Flex Glucosamine Chondroitin pills to maintain cartilage structure, slow cartilage deterioration and hopefully reduce pain. 
Since I have already hike the two Maricopa Trail segments before this one — Bronco Trailhead to Spur Cross and Spur Cross to Cave Creek Regional Park, both counter-clockwise, I decided to hike CCRP to the Anthem Trailhead / Daisy Mountain Fire Department, the same direction.
*** The community where road construction & other infrastructure was being put in March, 2019, up at the end of 40th Dr., has seen no further work. No houses, not even a demo unit. ***
West of 32nd St., the Maricopa Trail skirts a ranch property area — complete with loudly barking dogs — for ¾ of a mile, before turning northwest up a small canyon, for the only climb of the day, 150 AEG in a ½ mile. The best views of Apache Peak are along that climb. 
From the Apache Peak saddle, the Maricopa Trail follows a contour line west for ¾ of a mile along the north slope of Hill 2875. More ranch properties are to the right, just downslope, in New River. Straight ahead is a very striking, free standing, formation that apparently has no name. It is marked Hill 2565 on the topo. [ photo ]
Take care crossing paved, 2-lane, New River Rd., as the Maricopa Trail intersects it in the middle of a descending blind curve. 
The first mile of the Maricopa Trail west of New River Rd. passes within 100 ft. multiple sketchy properties, littered with debris, boarded up windows, and broken down trailers. Despite the meth-y vibe, no barking dogs.
Halfway into the Spear S Ranch to Anthem Trailhead segment, the Maricopa Trail crosses Rodger Creek for the first of three times. All were dry crossings. Not a spot of water.
The final ¾ of a mile, after the third creek crossing, splits more horse properties to the south (left) and Anthem golf course homes to the north (right). The area is dense with stinknet, aka globe chamomile, an invasive species.
Knee held up well, with no crippling pain the next morning. 
Hike Video: https://vimeo.com/501544037 |
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Wildflowers Observation None
El zilcho. |
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| http://prestonm.com : Everyone's enjoyment of the outdoors is different and should be equally honored. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
