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| | Phoenix Preserve Highpoints Super Loop, AZ | | | |
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Phoenix Preserve Highpoints Super Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 9.76 Miles |
1,350 AEG |
| | Hiking | 9.76 Miles | 3 Hrs 7 Mns | | 3.13 mph |
| 1,350 ft AEG | | | | |
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| Partners |
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[ show ]
| no partners | | Came up with this idea and thanks to @kingsnake triplog for giving me the idea. I wanted to do a longer hike where the trail wasn't too rough and this fit the bill. I thot I could shorten or lengthen it depending on how I felt. Well it was a good day and the temperature and breeze couldn't have been better. Apparently a whole slew of bike riders agreed with me as they were out enmasse and all were polite.
As I first started out I saw a fence I hadn't noticed before. I ran into nearly a dozen hikers as I made the jaunt over to Ridgeback and they were all in a good mood and greeted me accordingly. I got up Ridgeback Trail in good time and at the Overlook, I thot I started to smell a skunk but it was a doper sharing his vapors with nature. I made my way down the backside and encountered more hikers than I normally do on this section.
I got onto the Sidewinder Trail heading west when I ran into a rather large herd of bike riders. I'm guessing about a dozen and they were spread out a bit but once again, all were polite. I made it up the Sidewinder to the point just past the marked fence where last time Mia and I had cut cross country to join up with the Ocotillo. Today, however, I wanted to continue the hike upward and take the official junction with the Ocotillo Trail. It's a gradual up to the top of the mountains. I saw an old road over to the right that actually seems like it comes up the mountain to the top. I spooked up a Roadrunner.
The trail gets you down pretty fast and as I got closer to the junction I thot I heard HAZel but this time it was a real rattlesnake, altho I couldn't find it. A little later along the Ocotillo Trail I saw a bunny rabbit too. I ate some plantain chips along the way rather than stopping. The trail eventually swings east and you're closer to the road. A lot of activity here as there is a picnic area nearby and the sidewalk. As I got nearer the junction with Ridgeback there was bike riders coming from both directions so that got interesting for a bit.
I felt so good I had decided to tackle Apache Vista too. I was surprised how well I was doing as I was able to keep my miles under 20 minutes for the most part. I had exercised everyday this past week and maybe it was paying off; and like I said the temperature and breeze was perfect for me. Of course, now I would run into the throngs of people which does get a little annoying when I've already hiked 8 miles. I got up to the Vista and on this trail, there were a lot of non-hikers hiking.
When I got back to Tonto 3, I even had a little gas left in MY tank; not bad after over 9 miles. I think this is the longest hike I've ever done by my lonesome and without a break.  Enjoyed my beer and peanuts. Parking lot was full when I came and when I left.
WATCH: 9.59 miles 132 avg bpm, 161 high 23% max, 51% zone 4 anaerobic, 25% zone 3 aerobic (all but two miles under 20 min, one was a 24 and the other 20) burning 1221 calories. Temp at start 60.7 degrees and 24% humidity finishing at 12:27PM. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
miniature versions of poppies, scorpion weed, fiddleneck, a couple trumpets. Some creosote was blooming and maybe 1/2 dozen brittlebush. No stinknet either so far; that's a good thing! |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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