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| Hiking | 5.59 Miles |
2,713 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.59 Miles | 2 Hrs | | 2.84 mph |
| 2,713 ft AEG | 2 Mns Break | | | |
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| no partners | | I played in a charity volleyball tournament in Scottsdale in the morning and threw some extra water and my boots in the truck because Camelback wasn't far away, and I wasn't going to waste an opportunity to hike when I was right next door. The tournament was done by early afternoon, so I headed over to Invergordon. I try hard to avoid Camelback unless friends/family are visiting and talk me into it, but I assumed that with the temperature hovering ~100° in the middle of the afternoon, crowds wouldn't be a problem, and wide-open parking confirmed that.
It had been ~6 years since I'd hiked Camelback, and the city has further idiot-proofed the trail, especially on the Cholla side. I didn't take more than a few steps on the way up where there wasn't a sign, a reflector, and/or a paint mark highlighting the route. If the trend continues, my next visit in a few years will include a City of Phoenix employee holding my hand and guiding me up the mountain Sherpa-style.
As expected, there weren't many people out. Took a quick drink break at the top, then down the Echo side, and back and up and over to Invergordon. Not a bad city hike, especially when it's not packed with people. I felt pretty good despite a morning of volleyball and eating half a pizza, and I suppose it's not a bad idea to start getting used to the heat again...definitely starting to feel like summer, even if the oven was only turned up to medium today. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
On the eastern descent via Cholla, a few people were stung on the face and arms by bees once they began to mistakenly swat at the little feisty Anthophila. Somehow I was mixed up in their bad decisions that could have been much worse. At least she'll only have a puffy face for a few days. 
Route 
Took 46 minutes to reach the top. Chilled for maybe a minute before heading back down. Trails seemed very busy. Counted close to 250 hikers! 
Some notables: I saw a guy hiking up without any shoes 
. I had one guy pass me, skipping down the boulders. I was nearing the end when he passed me going back up 
(I’m not sure if he’s the “Augustine” that Joe referred to a few years ago, but my hat goes off to him). And speaking of impressed, I saw a 1 legged hiker making fantastic time with crutches. 
