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| Phoenix 7 Summit Challenge, AZ | |
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| | Phoenix 7 Summit Challenge, AZ | | | |
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Phoenix 7 Summit Challenge, AZ
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| Hiking | 25.27 Miles |
5,608 AEG |
| | Hiking | 25.27 Miles | 10 Hrs 11 Mns | | 2.48 mph |
| 5,608 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Phoenix 7 Summit Challenge: Begin at 0500 (the toughest part of the challenge), and complete 7 hikes for a total of 25 miles and AEG of 5600 feet within 12 hours.
1) Apache Wash Trailhead - Sidewinder - Ridgeback - Ocotillo Loop (5.04 miles): Began at 0520. Went counterclockwise. Completely dark except for the headlamps. Mostly flat, with a few ups and downs, with a hill near the end. Nice warmup. Decided to run down the hill, tripped on a rock, fell hard, and got a cholla stuck in my right glute. I couldn't see the cholla, so it remained there until the end of the loop when a staffer kindly removed it.
2) Deem Hills Ridgeline (3.2 miles): Nice, simple out-and back with a slightly steeper climb. Overall enjoyable. Views were decent, especially on the back end. A lot of views of the surrounding neighborhoods.
3) Dixie Summit Trail (3.17 miles): This was fun. Another out-and-back. Some nice views of other peaks along the way. A number of switchbacks to reach the summit.
4) Lookout Mountain Summit (2.83 miles): Mediocre for the first mile, then more interesting after that as the slope increased. Some fun, easy scrambling to reach the peak.
5) Shaw Butte Trail (3.9 miles): This one sucked. First mile flat and boring, then a steady, unrelenting ascent (20-30°) on a wide dirt road, with a few flat stretches and a couple turns. Views are poor the entire way. Very tedious, felt like it took forever to trudge up this one. The views at the top are the worst because the radio towers clutter up the summit.
6) Piestewa Peak (2.37 miles): I've done Piestewa a few times. It hits different when you've already done 18 miles prior to tackling this one. Took a number of rests, thought about giving up, then finished it.
7) Holbert Trail (4.76 miles): Felt better after surviving Piestewa and slamming a Red Bull. Nice trail. Fun. Good views along the way and at the top. There is a parking lot at the top, and the lookout area is crowded with people who drove up there, which diminishes the experience. Everyone on this trail was exuberant that this was the last hike of the Challenge, so good vibes all around.
Averaged 17-20 minutes/mile for the first 3 summits, 21-23 mins/mile for the next 2, 48 mins/mile for Piestewa (including all the resting and sobbing), and 29 mins/mile on Holbert.
There was also a total of over 2 hours of driving between trailheads.
Excited for next year! |
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