New Year’s is all about taking new steps forward, embracing dreams, and starting over.
And what better way to start the year off on the right foot than by putting that foot on a mountain and taking advantage of Arizona’s beautiful climate and numerous hiking trails?
For many transplants who relocated from the flatter parts of our country, there is a special thrill in being able to go on a mountainous hike right outside your back door. No need to drive for miles to get away from the city. Here one can literally go from Macy’s to mountain wilderness in mere minutes.
Pinnacle Peak in the northeastern Valley is a pleasant and not terribly treacherous way to begin. Its man-made steps built into the side of the mountain make it a bit less fearsome for those who, like me, never stepped foot on a trail before moving to the Grand Canyon State.
The hike that I’ve most often enjoyed is on the Gateway Loop in the McDowell Mountain Preserve. It’s nearby, easy to get to, and nicely (and safely) laid out, meaning there aren’t too many spots where a person with less than perfect balance is likely to fall to their death.
This is in stark contrast to a Camelback Mountain hike. This 2700 foot high climb is, as the website warns, NOT FOR BEGINNERS. Even hiking halfway to the top entails skirting narrow paths on the mountain’s edge and climbing rocks so steep that a metal handrail had to be installed for lack of anything else to hold onto. A HANDRAIL on a mountain, people! As in, if you don’t hold on, you WILL tumble down. If you want to get your heart pumping, think about that.
There is nothing quite so unnerving as going along on your hike, thinking you’re doing pretty well because you’re still upright and breathing, then seeing some young things jog by like they are running through the mall on their way to a half price sale. Or, worse yet, bikers on a mountain. Come on, really? Must you show off to the rest of us that not only can you bike really fast, but you can do it vertically? That’s unnecessary.
While a hike is an ideal way to seek fresh air, serenity and peace, for some it takes a little longer to get to that place where you mentally escape civilization. Case in point: on a recent climb, I overhead several interesting snippets of conversation. Like the distant sound of coyotes yipping, these echos from passersby tend to fade in and out along one's trek:
“So she’s at the wedding with Aiden and sees Big. I’ve seen it so many times and still love that one!”
“I’m just not going to stop my LIFE to deal with this!”
“And so I gathered myself up and FINALLY said to her...are you having a bad day?” (It seems to me if you have to gather your whole self up to say something, more should come out than “Are you having a bad day?”. But hey, that’s just me…)
“Ridley, you’re a dog.” Then, to his son, “He IS a dog, right?” (I was a little worried after hearing this that someone had been out in the sun too long.)
From a boy sharing a water bottle with his sister, “Ewww! I got backwash!” (Hey kid, you think they worried about backwash on the Oregon Trail?)
Sometimes you can clearly tell you’re passing a tourist. Not only because they are wearing shorts in January, but because they say things like, “It’s a bird’s nest! Look at the bird’s nest! Did you see the effing bird’s nest!???”
Or, from a passing wise guy on a bike,“Did you spot any wildlife up there? Camels? I was promised at least a snake!” (Sorry, buddy, we’re not actually in contract with the snakes at this time. And camels? Ummm…no.)
The two most important things to remember on your hike are to drink lots of water and to stay on the trail. Every so often a climber gets disoriented or lost and has to be rescued by helicopter. You don’t want your friends and family to see you on the news and forever bestow on you the name “stupid hiker”.
So make it your New Year’s resolution to pack yourself a snack, put on some sunscreen and get out while the getting’s good. It’s free, it’s fun and, if you’re lucky, you just might pick up some good gossip along the way.
For a guide to more great trails, click on arizonahikingtrails.com.
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