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| | | Phoenix Mountain Preserve Northeastern Loop, AZ | | | |
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Phoenix Mountain Preserve Northeastern Loop, AZ
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| Hiking | 7.01 Miles |
1,066 AEG |
| | Hiking | 7.01 Miles | | | |
| 1,066 ft AEG | | | | |
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none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Feb 25th, Saturday: Yates, Ruth, VOAZ, Happy Hour Ridgeline Loop. Wanted to get in a nice hike after lollygagging picture-taking part of my hike yesterday. Little did I know, it was going to happen again. I hadn't been here since December so I was also curious to see how green it was and it was. I parked at 38th St. I thot I would see more cars on Saturday afternoon but I didn't.
As I made my way zig zagging over to LV Yates Trail, I took several pictures of this lower area, mostly to document the greenness as we don't know when it will quite be like this again. I made the junction off of the 100 and headed south on 8. It was very green and lush of course but then.... yes, poppies. They started just as the ascent to the saddle began. AND, on both sides of the trail. So, somewhat reluctantly, I threw in the towel and decided to take movies  . There were several hikers coming and going and their doggies so I worked around them. The poppies were interspersed so no big groupings, yet. Stay tuned.
I reached the saddle after taking a picture of that huge quartz rock. I started down the other side and noticed Lupine and Scorpionweed. The bright sunlight made it difficult to photograph the low lying flora even though to my eye, it was a pretty scene. I fiddled with my brightness bar to see how that would work but wouldn't really know until I got home. The 8 goes right (west) but I headed up the 136th Street hill toward the new house they are building. And yep, there it was, masses of poppies on both sides of the trail  . There were other little flowers but your eyes are immediately drawn to all that yellow. I liked the poppies on the upside hill as they were easier to photograph. There were the other co-stars too and purple and yellow go so nicely together.
The poppies finally gave way as I headed up the hill. I noticed a gentleman with a McDowell Preserve blue shirt on and I jokingly asked if he was lost. He is a steward over at the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. We talked about the wildflowers including the stunted growth and he suggested maybe the freeze was a reason. I discussed coming over for some interpretive hikes but that I like to get in a good hike if I'm going over there. His companion suggested I do the hike I want to do before the event and then attend the hike so you don't have to worry about the time. I continued my hike and as I headed down the pavement to Ruth Hamilton I noticed that they had removed the people size guard rails. I took pictures of some of the progress on whatever it is they are building; still wish they would have put in a Bar.
I turned onto Ruth Hamilton. Here you have a good view into downtown but it wasn't super clear today. As I got up the hill I got some more pictures of the structures going in. I took 8A Quartz Ridge Trail northbound. It is very scenic with all the cactus and such. There were a few hikers on this trail too and the desert floor was pretty green but light on wildflowers. I went through the wash a couple times and intersected back on 8 and headed west. Once again you get to see the wide expanse of the green desert floor and hillsides. I always like the cactus in this area as well. I headed up the hill to where the trail starts getting rocky and crossed to the 304 and then a use-trail over to the 302. I did notice that there are two ways to get on this connector trail off of the 304.
I took the 302/304 north to the main junction that includes 1A/304. They have six stickers on this post indicating directions of each. I was heading upward on the 1A/302 to catch the VOAZ. I always like the boulders at the junction with the VOAZ which I would be taking. I encountered a few hikers as I made my way to the saddle and then into the shade of the north side of the mountains. There were some wildflowers as I made my way down, especially poppies in the center section. Instead of taking the 1A (that's where the sticker comes in), I took the hill off of the VOAZ as it was in the sun. I had planned a little different route back to the TH but I was running late so opted to circle around Happy Hour Ridgeline.
There were some little wildflowers on the hillside. I crossed over 100 and continued around the hill. The wildflowers had pretty much disappeared in this area and the northside of Happy Hour Ridgeline. I noticed a helicopter and it circled an area around 40th St several times. I would later see flashing lights at the 40th St parking lot when I turned on to 40th St. There is a hill to the northwest side of 36th St that has a trail on it. One of these times I should take the time to check that out. I did spot an Anna's Hummingbird on a tree branch just like I had at Lookout earlier in the week and both times toward the end of my hike. What was really funny though is HAZel was announcing my mileage beginning with the sound of Anna's Hummingbird! I laughed so hard  .
Once again, I took lots of pictures and movies.
LV Yates #8 [ youtube video ]
Connector between #8 and #8B Ruth Hamilton [ youtube video ]
Ruth, Quartz and Yates [ youtube video ]
Yates, 304 and start of VOAZ [ youtube video ]
VOAZ around Happy Hour Ridgeline and back to 38th St [ youtube video ]
(I haven't finished reviewing the videos yet so the links may change)
HAZel RS 3:30/14 min break/2.15 MPH
WATCH 2:02-5:32PM, 6.49miles, 1532-2044 elevation. 124 avg bpm/167 max with 13% Zone 5 maximum, 44% Zone 4 anaerobic, 38% Zone 3 aerobic, 5% Zone 2 weight control burning 1197 calories. Temp 71.5 Sunny and 21% humidity |
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Wildflowers Observation Moderate
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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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Route Editor
Route Scout
Since I'd be on my own, decided to keep it close. Yet, still wanted to knock out some AEG. 
Moved down quickly to limit my time amongst the masses.
Route 
Basically took the Perl Charles and the Nature Trail to get to the Ruth Hamilton. Passed a stone pedestal on the Perl Charles that I’m sure has been there for as long as I’ve been hiking, but I don’t ever recall seeing it. Can’t imagine what it would have been for. An uncomfortable stone bench? Looks like the park is trying to “shore up” some of the trail side cacti. There were several that had rock work around their base trying to provide soil support. Looks like some work went into building those rock structures. Ruth Hamilton is one of the rougher trails in the preserve. A rather short, but choppy uphill climb. Went out to the end of the Ruth Hamilton and checked out the new house that has replaced the old white mansion. Surprised to see that the home is still being built, but is for sale. Somebody bought the property, razed the old house, built a new house and is trying to sell it. Somebody with way too much time and money on their hands. I can’t imagine what they need to sell it for to make profit. On the way back to the TH a took a compilation of user trails. Included the Dreamy Draw Link which was a short, pleasant connector trail. The Dreamy Draw trails have some nice intimate sections that you wouldn’t expect. Decent hike, nice weather for 6am. Encounter about 40 others enjoying the trails.
on my way up LV Yates but I didn't fall hard so I just inspected my leg, picked up my phone and continued on my way. There were a couple people at the saddle and I wouldn't see any hikers again until coming down Quartz Ridge. They are busy working on the new structures at the top of Ruth Hamilton hill. I took several pictures so that we can track the progress. I think it's a great place for a residence if that's what is going in there. They have created a hiking lane on the pavement down to the junction with Ruth Hamilton.
. They laid a layer of black gravel on the turn off from 40th St so had to slow Tonto3 down for a couple miles so as not to chip its paint.
) finishing at beer time 12:11PM
in the Phoenix Mountains Preserve. And, as long as I was there, hike off some of the calories. 
