Friday Fitness Hike

I hiked 8.3 miles on Friday – Dixie Mine to Sonoran, and then a loop on the Sonoran after crossing into the Preserve. Temperatures were in the mid-eighties when I started, warming up to the mid-nineties when I finished. Once I got to the Promenade Trail, I considered adding the Western Loop, but decided that it was a little too warm and humid to do it comfortably. As it was, I drank all of one of my 3 liter reservoirs and had started on the second just before finishing.

An early morning view from the Dixie Mine Trail:

A look ahead from the Sonoran Trail in McDowell Mountain Park:

This was my first time hiking the new section of the Sonoran Trail since its completion. The left fork is the new section of trail. It leads to the same place – the Promenade Trail – but is almost a quarter of a mile longer than the original segment of the Sonoran Trail.

This trail was well laid out. It follows the contours nicely and, in spots, you forget that you’re near the town.

A view of the McDowells. Tom’s Thumb is visible in this photo.

Nearing the end (where it intersects the Promenade Trail) of the new segment of the Sonoran Trail.

I encountered this Western Diamondback Rattlesnake on the way back while hiking the older segment of trail.

I think this might be Twinberry / Rough Menodora: