Siphon Draw trail in
the Superstition mountains has a reputation as a challenging hike. I can
attest to this trail living up to it's reputation! The 6 mile RT trail
starts out gradual to the waterfall then becomes steep requiring a lot
of hands and arm work to balance and pull yourself up large boulders and
squeeze through narrow clefts in the rock. Paul and I hiked to the Flat
Iron which is a large flat mesa like area on one of the highest
cliffs. We then hiked to the summit of the trail where there is a flag
made from an agave stalk with a piecs of white denim where hikers can
write there names etc. The day we hiked was also the anniversary of a
plane crash from one year ago that killed 6 people including the 3 small
children of Karen Perry. We met her on the trail as she was nearing
the top of a memorial hike with some friends. We visited the memorial
that friends have made for the crash victims. This was a long day of
hiking, approx. 5 - 6 hours and very tiring but rewarding.
50 Hikes for My 50th!
I am celebrating my 50th year by hiking 50 different trails. I will be posting photos and information on each hike. Most of the trails will be in Arizona but some will be in other states or countries. Please send suggestions for any hikes you recommend. Thank you for reading my blog! "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth His handywork." Psalms 19:1
Humphreys Peak, Flagstaff, AZ
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Hike #52 - Corona Loma - South Mountain, Phoenix, AZ
Thanksgiving morning a friend of Paul's (Bob) invited a group of us to do a trail run up this popular mountain biking trail at South Mountain Park. The trail was approx. 5 miles round trip. The first mile and a half was relatively flat dipping in and out of a washes, dodging cactus and other shrubs with lots of stickers. The second mile was much more challenging having a steep grade of switchbacks climbing 1000' to spectacular views. (I didn't take a lot of photos so I am posting photos from Mare Czinar with permission http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com/2011/11/corona-de-loma-trail.html)
Hike #51 - Seven Falls, Bear Canyon, Tucson, AZ
Sabino Canyon in the Santa Catalina Mountains is a popular hiking area in Tucson, AZ. The Bear Canyon Trail takes you to Seven Falls which in the Spring time has seven spring crossings, large pools and seven water falls. Paul and I hiked this trail in the Fall, November 10, 2012. There were 2 small pools of water but no water falls. The trail is 7.8 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 650'. We actually hiked a little further since it was a beautiful day and we were curious to see the view of the falls from above.
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Hike #50 - Barr Trail/Pikes Peak, Manitou Springs, CO
HIKE #50!! I can't believe it has been a year already. Last September at this time I was hiking The Inca Trail in Peru and just starting my hiking adventures. Paul convinced me to hike Pikes Peak for #50, so I cautiously agreed. I had mixed emotions about how I would hold up at 14,000'. I knew it would be spectacular! Paul recommended hiking this trail Labor Day weekend because the weather is perfect this time of year. He has hiked it 4 other times at this time and always had great weather. To make this trip extra special we stayed at the historic Broadmoor Hotel. This was the nicest hotel I have ever stayed in and it was nice to be pampered by the luxury, excellent cuisine and great customer service.
Pikes Peak was the inspiration for school teacher Katharine Lee Bates to write "America the Beautiful" in 1893. (Once you've seen Pikes Peak at sunrise or sunset, you know what she meant by "purple mountain majesties.") More important, it hosts three of the best trail races in the U.S.—the 12.6-mile Barr Trail Mountain Race (mid-July), 13.3-mile Pikes Peak Ascent and 26.2-mile Pikes Peak Marathon (mid-August). The trail, an almost entirely dirt and gravel singletrack route, passes through three ecological life zones as it climbs up the eastern flanks of the mountain. The trail is named after Fred Barr, who directed its construction from 1914-1921, while Pikes Peak is named after American explorer Zebulon Pike, who discovered the mountain in 1806.
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-238-511--14032-0,00.html
Trailhead the door before |
Almost Treeline! |
16 Golden Stairs - near the top |
Broadmoor Hotel |
We Made It!! |
Broadmoor Hotel |
The Manitou Incline |
The Manitou Incline |
Top of Manitou Incline |
Pikes Peak with snow cover |
The following day, Paul convinced me to hike up the Manitou Incline. . . . WOW!
The Manitou Incline is a uniquely challenging one-mile route lined with wooden railroad ties as it climbs 2,000 feet up the side of the mountain. It's the site of a former cable car railway, but the rails were removed in 1990, making it one of the most challenging time trial test pieces anywhere. With an average grade of 41 percent—and a super-steep section that climbs at 68 percent—most people find it to be an ambitious 45-minute hike, but plenty of hearty local runners have sped up the trail in less than 25 minutes. (The record to the top is under 17 minutes.) But here's the thing: even though locals have been hiking and running this route for 20 years (including athletes who live and train at the nearby U.S. Olympic Training Center), it's technically illegal. But that is expected to change soon as Manitou Springs is working with the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies and land owners to officially open the Incline for public recreation. http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-238-511--14032-0,00.html
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Hike # 49 - Hidden Canyon, Zion National Park, UT
From Observation Point Paul and I spotted people (through binoculars) hiking along the narrow ridge that leads to Hidden Canyon. The trail looked narrow and scary on the side of the cliff. As we came down the Observation Point trail we decided to hike into Hidden Canyon. We hiked about 1 mile (RT) of this 2.2 mile (RT) hike. The trail is secreted between Cable Mountain and the backside of the Great White Throne. We clinged to chains for support as we walked on the slippery sandstone trail.
Hike #48 - Observation Point, Zion National Park, UT
This 2,000' ascent
strenuous hike takes you to a spectacular vista where you can see nearly
every major attraction in Zion Canyon. The trail is 8 miles round trip
and has short sections that are very steep and other sections that are
more level through beautiful Echo Canyon. We did not pass very many
people hiking this trail. At the Observation Point you get a nice view
of Angel's Landing. We could see people on the trail and on top through
binoculars. We also noticed the Hidden Canyon Trail in the distance
which we decided to took a detour on the way down to hike.
Hike #47 - Emerald Pools, Zion National Park, UT
There are three Emerald Pools at Zion National Park, Lower, Middle and Upper. The Lower Pool is 1.2 miles round trip with an elevation gain of 70'. This area is lush with greenery, cottonwood trees and leads into a gorgeous canyon with pools of water. Emerald would not be a color I would use to describe them but nevertheless they are nice. We hiked to the middle and upper pools on a separate hike. The distance was 1.5 miles round trip.
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