Author: Kevin (page 4 of 115)

March 6, 2020 / 6 Comments

Tortilla Canyon / Peter’s Canyon

Mike, Ben, Marilyn, Linda, Denise, Laura, and Marilyn joined me for a hike of Tortilla Canyon and Peter’s Canyon.

Looking northeast after leaving Tortilla Flat. The road in the photo is the Apache Trail. The section seen here is now open to local traffic only. There is a section, further on, that was closed after last year’s fire.

Looking back in the other direction…

New signage; I haven’t hiked it yet, but it’s my understanding that Fragile Arch Saddle is on the way to Geronimo Head and Malapais Mountain.

Another view prior to descending into Tortilla Canyon:

Both Tortilla and Peter’s Canyon had more water than I’d seen before. We encountered water as soon as we reached the canyon floor.

In this photo are Denise, Marilyn, Ben, Linda, Marilyn, and Mike. (Laura was standing next to me when I took this photo.)

Linda and Marilyn H cross the water in Tortilla Canyon. Early on, most of us tried to keep our feet dry. I think most of us got our feet wet at some point during the day.

Denise in Tortilla Canyon:

There were a few spots where we could walk along the bank, but much of the time we made our way up-canyon by hopping from boulder to boulder through the water.

Nearing the entrance to Peter’s Canyon…

This is the entrance to Peter’s Canyon:

This was actually a small waterfall; my camera placement makes it look more impressive than it actually was.

Peter’s Canyon had even more rocks than Tortilla Canyon:

There’s an early section of Peter’s Canyon which has really big boulders. Mike, Ben, Marilyn H, Marilyn B, and I scrambled up and down these boulders working our way up-canyon while Denise, Laura, and Linda bushwhacked along one side of the canyon.

The canyon turns to the right here and then becomes much easier for a time.

Looking back the way we came…

This is the view just after turning the corner:

Looking back towards the corner:

We made our way along the rock of the right bank along this section of the canyon. This was an “easy” section; after this point, there was some bushwhacking to be done…

We saw poppies (and other flowers too) while bushwhacking along one of the banks.

Linda and Marilyn work their way up-canyon as we near Peter’s Cave:

Peter’s Cave, on the right.

Looking back (down-canyon) from near Peter’s Cave:

Heading back now; Peter’s Cave can be seen in the center of the photo. It doesn’t look like it here, but it’s actually a good ways up off the canyon floor, maybe 40 feet or so.

The group split somewhere around this point; Marilyn, Marilyn, and I had had enough bushwhacking and opted to hike through the water on the way back. It was slower, but it was also more fun.

This is a shot that I got while hiking through the water. I was happy that my camera was still working because I had taken a spill earlier, landing in the water.

More poppies:

Marilyn, Ben, Denise, Linda, Marilyn, and Mike. (Laura had stayed behind just prior to turning the corner mentioned earlier; we’re probably about 15 minutes away from rejoining her at this spot.)

Ben and I have just turned the corner. If you look closely, you can see Laura further down the canyon. I’m not sure, but I think there might be some petroglyphs on the left wall. I didn’t notice these while I was there.

Looking down-canyon; Laura can be seen in the distance. In the foreground, from left to right are Denise, Marilyn, Marilyn, Linda, Ben, and Mike’s arm/hand.

Linda and Denise (photo credit Linda Kalbach):

Kevin, Marilyn, Laura, Mike, Linda, Ben, and Denise (photo credit: Marilyn Huot):

Laura and Kevin (photo credit: Marilyn Huot):

February 28, 2020 / 2 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Mike, Marilyn, Diane, and Gayle joined me for a 7.5 mile hike starting from the Wagner Trailhead.

Views from Bluff Wash…

Looking toward the McDowells from the Pemberton Trail:

A very healthy saguaro along the Bluff Trail:

Looking toward the Superstitions from the Bluff Trail:

Some of the first poppies of the season…

February 21, 2020 / 1 Comment

Friday Fitness Hike

Tom, Cathy, Marilyn, Nora, Ben, and Marilyn joined me for a hike starting from Tom’s Thumb Trailhead. After visiting Tom’s Thumb, we hiked over to the intersection with the East End Trail, where Dan and Cathy returned via Tom’s Thumb Trail. The rest of us made a loop, going down East End, then returning via Windmill, Coachwhip, Pemberton, Boulder, and Marcus Landslide. We hiked 10.6 miles with over 2100 feet of elevation gain.

Marilyn and Ben hike up the trail to the ridge on which Tom’s Thumb is situated. Pinnacle Peak and Troon Mountain can be seen in the distance.

Nora, Marilyn, Cathy, Ben, and Tom in front of Tom’s Thumb:

A view from the East End Trail:

Approaching the Windmill Trail:

A view of Four Peaks from the Windmill Trail:

Fairy Duster along the Coachwhip Trail:

Marilyn, Nora, Marilyn, and Ben along the Pemberton Trail:

Looking toward the Granite Ballroom and the Sven Towers from the Boulder Trail:

A very large boulder alongside the Marcus Landslide Trail:

Looking toward the Thumbnail Pinnacle from the Marcus Landslide Trail:

February 14, 2020 / 0 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Ben, Marilyn, Gayle, Laura, Mike, and Marilyn joined me for a hike of nearly 12 miles. We hiked the South Ridge and the South Wash, returning via Dixie Mine and Pemberton.

Two views of Red Mountain…

The (Fountain Hills) fountain can be seen in this photo!

Looking over the South Wash towards Four Peaks:

This is the other direction, now looking toward the McDowells:

We’re in the wash now, albeit a narrow and shallower part:

Looking towards Four Peaks from the Dixie Mine Trail (near Pemberton). That’s a chain fruit cholla in the foreground.

Another view of Four Peaks, this time from the Pemberton Trail. A bunch of trail runners and mountain bikers had just passed us. You can still see a few of them in this photo.

February 7, 2020 / 3 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Laura, Mike, Nora, Heather, Gayle, Bob, Ben, and Marilyn joined me for a nearly eleven mile hike in the McDowells. We visited the Dixie Mine and then continued onto Prospector, making a loop additionally comprised of the Bell Pass, Windmill, and Coachwhip trails.

Looking toward the McDowells from early in the hike:

Affectionate saguaros:

Dixie Mine adit:

Petroglyphs:

More petroglyphs:

Hiking up the waterfall:

A cool slab along the way up-canyon:

Laura, Mike, Nora, Heather, Gayle, Bob, Ben, and Marilyn:

Looking towards Fountain Hills and the Superstitions from the Prospector Trail overlook:

Continuing on the Prospector Trail…

Looking towards Four Peaks from the Bell Pass Trail:

Brittlebush blossoms along the Windmill Trail:

January 31, 2020 / 2 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Roseanne, Dennis, Barb, Nick, Mike, Bob, Linda, Marilyn, Ben, Gayle, and Marilyn joined me for a hike of the Scenic Trail. After hiking the Scenic Trail, Roseanne, Dennis, Bob, Nick, and Marilyn took the short way back to the trailhead while the rest of us hiked Lousley Wash and then Lousley Hill, eventually returning via Escondido and Shallmo Wash. Total hike distance for some of us was 13 miles!

Looking toward the McDowells from the ridge along the Scenic Trail:

This is the group at the top of the hill along the Scenic Trail.

Looking toward Four Peaks from the Scenic Trail:

A view from Lousley Wash:

Looking toward Red Mountain from the top of Lousley Hill:

A Chuparosa bloom in Lousley Wash:

A view from the Escondido Trail:

I don’t know the name of this flower, but we saw several of them along the Shallmo Wash Trail as we neared Pemberton.

January 24, 2020 / 1 Comment

Friday Fitness Hike

Marilyn, Mike, Sara, Jerry, and Julie joined me for a ten mile hike in the Tom’s Thumb area. Marilyn hiked out Marcus Landslide, then took Pemberton and Coachwhip to Windmill. There, she waited for the rest of us to meet up with her after hiking past Tom’s Thumb and down East End.

A view of Troon Mountain from early in the hike:

This small pinnacle is encountered while hiking the access trail leading to the ridge on which Tom’s Thumb is situated.

Looking down at Pinnacle Peak and Troon:

A view of Tom’s Thumb from the ridge:

Looking toward Phoenix:

Mike, Sara, Julie, and Jerry in front of Tom’s Thumb:

Heading down the East End Trail…

Jerry, Julie, and Mike descending one of many switchbacks on the East End Trail:

Mike spotted this chain fruit cholla with fasciation, or cresting:

Marilyn and Sara on the Boulder Trail:

January 17, 2020 / 2 Comments

Friday Fitness Hike

Ben, Marilyn, Mike, Jerry, Julie, and Marilyn joined me for a hike starting from the Wagner Trailhead. It was another “wash day” in which we spent much of the hike in washes.

This is a view of Red Mountain from Stoneman Wash. It doesn’t look especially red in this photo.