|
| | | North Central Phx Mountain Preserve Loop, AZ | | | |
|
|
North Central Phx Mountain Preserve Loop, AZ
| | |
| |
|
| Hiking | 5.17 Miles |
561 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.17 Miles | 1 Hour 47 Mns | | 2.90 mph |
| 561 ft AEG | | | | |
|
|
| |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | I had something else planned but it didn't quite workout so this was Plan B. I do enjoy this Preserve as you can mix and match to the level you enjoy, but still put in some work. I came in from 38th St and on the initial hike south, they're wasn't hardly anybody about. However, I would soon see hikers, bikers, and dogs.
I decided to do 1A and noticed what I thot are new colored signs from here and on the rest of the hike. Along the way was a big downed soldier; always so sad to see. As I headed south on the last part up to the saddle I noticed a new trail, and by gosh, there sure is. It gives you the option to hang an east. And then as I was climbing the last hill, I noticed these terrace-like rock walls protecting small saguaros on the side of the trail. They look great.
I continued over the saddles. In the distance I could see a big section of gold grass in the middle of a mountainside; it really stood out so I tried to capture a picture of that. I headed west on the 304 Nature Trail and started noticing trail work. I got to the intersection with the 302 and headed south again before turning east on the connector trail. I wasn't sure if I would head up the 304 until I got there. Once again, I noticed trail work and had decided to head up the 304 and down the 8.
Descending the 8 I saw another big soldier down but also, significant trail work as this is usually quite rocky. They aren't done yet, but don't have much further to go. I see where they added another little rock wall around a little saguaro and soon I saw a sign to thank the trail stewards. They really are doing a nice job and adding some creativity. I decided to continue on 8 thru the wash and then head north. Once I got on 100 and then headed across the last wash, there are a few different trails so I tried a little divergence before getting back to Tonto.
This time I remembered my Huck It, however, it was a tad cold but I decided since I brot it, I needed to drink it. Plus I needed to kill some time, so it would be around dinner time and I could go for my In and Out burger, my alterior motive for hiking over here  .
I ran three devices, watch and phone and RS. I did read that if I reset my watch, it might help with the technical issue of it recording walks instead of what it should be recording, the hike.
Phone: 2:59-4:47PM, 5.10 miles burning 667 calories, 1532-1848 elevation. Temp 66.1 sunny with some overcast, 7% humidity, a breeze depending on which way you were hiking.
Watch: 676 calories, Temp 64.4, 140 avg bpm |
|
Wildflowers Observation None
they're trying |
|
| _____________________
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. |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
Route 
. Needless to say I was impressed as he knocked out the VOAZ at about my pace; and I wasn't really in the mood for much elevation today (I think yesterday's evening barbell class wore me down before I started, ha!). Anyway, I was glad to be able to follow him up the mountain. He did trip a lot but seemed to manage control. I sat with him at the saddle while he drank some water and re-grouped. I told him I would wait for the others.
. Finally I would see the trail ahead of me that would end at the saddle of the 304/8. Well that was fun. This is the third time this year (two of them in this Preserve) that I've found unmarked trails to follow.
. I did fairly well on the two shoes, encountering only 3 hikers and one biker on the entire hike.
Definitely opportune if you live close by, but it won't be added to my regulars. 
