DESTINATION North Leg Trail - FHP 1 Photoset
2024-06-09 | | -
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| Hiking | 4.91 Miles |
1,058 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.91 Miles | 1 Hour 35 Mns | | 3.10 mph |
| 1,058 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | I’m way behind on my triplogs, so I decided to jump to the front of the pack and work backwards. Did a short hike in the FHP. Wanted to do another trail that I hadn’t done and opted for the North Leg. Got out to Ardero TH a little after 5am. Hiked out to the North Leg on the Promenade and then did a simple in and out on the NL. The NL is only about .8 miles long, but it does lose/gain (got to hike back up) about 400ft. Not too shabby for a short trail. Single track with some decent grades at the back end. Wanted a little more than what the NL had to offer so I decided to hike up the north side of the Western Trail. A lot of switchbacks on this trail and, as I feared, a lot of shortcuts have developed bypassing the switchbacks. Not surprised. The switchbacks had been ridiculously tight and close together. As I was hiking up I noticed a new trail just to the west and north of the Western. Hiked up to the Overlook and then decided to hike back down the north side of the Western to check out the new trail. Looks like this new trail will take off in the same area as the Sonoran Loop. The trail says that it is still under construction, but it doesn’t look that far off. Looks like parts of this new trail will be very close to the Western. I can see a “use” trail developing if one isn’t created.
Nice hike. Encountered 7 hikers and 1 biker. Temps were great at 6 in the morning and there was actually some cloud coverage. Decent amount of wildlife…lizards, a chipmunk, quail, a thriving rabbit population and I assume a very annoyed snake. I spooked the poor guy going up the Western and then again going back down. Same spot both times. There must have been a nice warm spot on the trail. Construction out there is going gangbusters. I keep thinking they’re done building on the mountain and every time I go back they’ve razed a new, higher plot. We’ll be hiking through people backyards before they’re done. 
Not on the trail but worth noting. On the drive out to Fountain Hills I’m pretty sure I saw a good-sized bobcat crossing Shea near the Mayo Clinic.  |
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