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Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Northeastern Arizona.

petrified-forest-national-park

Named for its large deposits of petrified wood, the fee area of the park covers about 230 square miles (600 square kilometers), encompassing semi-desert shrub steppe as well as highly eroded and colorful badlands. …

The site, the northern part of which extends into the Painted Desert, was declared a national monument in 1906 and a national park in 1962. About 800,000 people visit the park each year and take part in activities including sightseeing, photography, hiking, and backpacking. …

The park’s seven maintained hiking trails, some paved, vary in length from less than 0.5 miles (0.8 km) to nearly 3 miles (4.8 km). …

Hikers and backpackers may also visit the park’s wilderness areas. Free permits are required for overnight stays …

I enjoyed the 1 mile hike at Blue Mesa. Reviews.

blue_mesa_painted_desert

Entry fee.

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Epic Grand Canyon Hike

Have you been following Peter McBride & Kevin Fedarko?

Epic Grand Canyon Hike: A 650-Mile Challenge (Part 1)

Epic Grand Canyon Hike: Frozen Shoes and Low on Food (Part 2)

I liked the 3rd and final instalment best.

Click PLAY or watch Thirst and Threats in the Godscape on YouTube.

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Barber Loop Trail, Mojave CA

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

I love Mojave National Preserve about an hour away from Las Vegas.

But I’d already done most of the popular hikes on previous trips.

Happily this time I discovered the Barber Loop Trail apparently the newest of the established trails.

Ideal for those sleeping at Hole-in-the-Wall Campground.

barber-peak-loop-trail-ca-map

It’s a loop so you can hike in either direction.

Barber Loop Trail, CA

Best is to start off into the desert, return via the Rings Loop Trail

Barber Loop Trail, CA

I was a bit disappointed. Standard flat desert.

Barber Loop Trail, CA

I’d hoped the trail would loop up on top of Barber Mountain. It doesn’t.

Barber Loop Trail, CA

There are a few things to see in the desert, of course.

Barber Loop Trail, CA Barber Loop Trail, CA Barber Loop Trail, CA

The best part is the section you could do separately as the Rings Loop Trail.

Barber Loop Trail, CA Barber Loop Trail, CA Barber Loop Trail, CA

more photos

If you want to know more, Bird and Hike posted an excellent trip report.

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hike Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

  • 3 miles return
  • 812 feet elevation gain

My old friend Francis Tally took me to one of his favourite hikes out of Usery Mountains Regional Park near his winter home in Mesa, AZ.

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

Huge Saguaro cactus are the highlight. And the brazen chipmunks. 🙂

Francis told me an awful story of a hiker who fell into one of the OTHER types of cactus. It took paramedics 3 hours to remove enough spines just to transport him by ambulance!

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

We arrived on a Sunday morning to learn that weekend mornings are a zoo on this popular trail. It was difficult to find parking .

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

The trail itself is not all that difficult. Many children hike it.

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

The Wind Cave isn’t really a “cave” but rather an indent to shelter from the wind.

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

Almost everyone stops here. Francis and I scrambled on to the top of the mountain.

Finding some pink ribbons we decided to follow that off-trail route.

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

Here we be. The sprawl of greater Phoenix at our feet.

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

This is a terrific area for day hikes.

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

Thanks Francis. … I assume the name tag on your hat is to help authorities return you to your retirement park if you get lost. 🙂

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

Exiting the Park Francis took me over to a nearby gun range just below the Phoenix sign. I’d never seen one before.

Wind Cave, Phoenix AZ with Francis

They are LOUD.

related – Roads Less Traveled trip report

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Patagonia boycotts Outdoor Retailer

Patagonia has just become the first retailer to pull out of a big industry trade show in Utah to protest state leaders’ efforts to strip federal protection of public land. …

The company’s announcement Tuesday came after its founder, Yvon Chouinard, wrote an open letter last month urging Utah governor Gary Herbert to stop trying to undo the decision by former president Obama to create the Bears Ears National Monument. …

Guardian

It’s time for Outdoor Retailer shows to move out of Utah. Utah governor Gary Herbert @HerbertForUtah and most of his Republican colleagues hate Outdoor Recreation.

Turkey telling Utah governor Gary Herbert what we think of him
Turkey telling Utah governor Gary Herbert what we think of him
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scramble Siphon Draw to Flatiron, Phoenix

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

  • Length:  6 miles (round trip)
  • Trailhead Elevation:  2,080 ft.
  • Gain/Loss:  +2,900 ft.
  • Difficulty: Difficult

Flatiron, aka Siphon Draw, is one of the most popular and exhilarating hikes in the Superstition Wilderness. This trail puts you on top of one of the most prominent rock features of the range called Flatiron due to the fact it looks like an upside down iron. …

The Flatiron trail begins at the westernmost side of the Superstition Wilderness at the Lost Dutchman’s State Park.

Arizona Hikers

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Lost Dutchman’s is a lovely Park and campground. Up and up.

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

It doesn’t take long to reach the big cliffs.

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

The Siphon Draw Trail is not much of a trail. It’s mostly a scramble up the rocky chute.

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

As you can see, it’s very popular on a nice January day. A number of these folks were challenged by the physical demands. A few had poor footwear.

The crux of the scramble is at the very top. No doubt a few turn back there. 😦

Top of Flatiron. Here’s the view over the Phoenix sprawl.

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

I continued up into these weird eroded towers.

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

I left a Summit Stone atop a cairn. Then made my way down as rapidly as possible.

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

The descent is much more dangerous than the climb. I fell once. Most people fall more than once.

The sun was dropping rapidly by the time I reached the trailhead. Beautiful light.

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

Siphon Draw to Flatiron

We’ve added Siphon Draw to Flatiron to our list of the best hikes in North America. It’s highly memorable and unique.

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Peralta Trail #102 to Fremont Saddle, Phoenix

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

I had a half day free to hike. Not sure where to go, I drove up to Peralta trailhead close to Mesa, AZ. Of the many options from the trailhead, this looked best to me.

  • Level: Easy/ Moderate
  • Length: 5 miles
  • Elevation: approx 1300 ft. gain
  • Type: Out and Back

Peralta Trail 102

It was a beautiful day climbing up and along a creek. Here’s the vista on one side.

Peralta Trail 102

And the other side.

Peralta Trail 102

At the Fremont Saddle kids were scrambling the boulders. Moms tried to avert their eyes.

Peralta Trail 102

The most spectacular feature on the other side … Weaver’s Needle. Some people climb it.

Peralta Trail 102

details 

If you have two vehicles, you might want to continue past Fremont Saddle.

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Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak, Arizona

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

Like many others driving between Phoenix and Tuscon, I’d always wanted to climb this unique volcanic plug.

It looks challenging, but I found it not too bad.

picacho_3

It’s not via ferrata, but there are cables and other assistance everywhere needed.

picacho-peak-cables

Bring gloves.

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As a former gymnast, I was certainly overconfident on arrival at the trailhead.

Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak

I’d already embarrassed myself pronouncing the name of the peak as Pikachu. That’s wrong.

500px-025pikachu

Though one hiker cried 4 times getting up and down, I found it fun.

I love the giant, individually unique saguaro cactus.

Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak

On the way up it’s difficult to imagine there’s actually a hiking route.

Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak

This beautiful day attracted many to the peak. Everyone made it to the top so far as I could see. Myself included.

Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak

Certain birds and animals make a good living waiting on lunch crumbs here.

Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak

The vista from the top is not all that spectacular.

Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak

I made a sidetrip to a smaller peak. Here’s the vista looking back to the summit.

Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak

Still, Hunter Trail to Picacho Peak is unique and interesting enough to be added to our list of best hikes in North America.

If you have two vehicles consider climbing up via Hunter Trail, returning via Sunset Trail. 

 

 

 

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hiking the Gila Wilderness, New Mexico

trip report by site editor Rick McCharles

You’ve heard of Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument.

It’s adjacent to the Gila Wilderness.

600px-gila-aldo_leopold_wilderness

Gila Wilderness was designated the world’s first wilderness area on June 3, 1924. … part of New Mexico’s Gila National Forest. …

The Mogollon Mountains traverse an arc across the wilderness. The tallest peak within this range, Whitewater Baldy at 10,895 ft (3,321 m) …

I headed for the most popular Baldy trailhead – Crest Trail #182.

I never made it due to mountain road improvements January 2017. ROAD CLOSED.

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So I read some of the Peakbagger trip reports instead.

The consensus was not good: bad roads, snow into July, forest fire recovery sections, hunters.  It will not go on our list of the best hikes in North America.

The most popular hike in Gila Wilderness is the Catwalk – “… a one-mile trail suspended above a rushing stream in a gorge only a few feet wide.”

It had been rebuilt over a period of 2 years costing over $4.4 million dollars. And opened again in 2016.

I’d been advised by a Ranger that only the catwalk part of the trail was open. Hikers often continue on to #207. I would have wild camped if it had been open.

Sadly, that Ranger was wrong. It was all closed due to flooding.

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Still, the Catwalk does look very cool.

catwalk

The 1.1-mile Catwalk National Recreation Trail winds through the canyon’s steep, pink walls of volcanic rock, following the path of a pipeline built in the early 1890s to provide water and electricity for the mining town of Graham.   …

Desert USA

LESSON LEARNED — Before driving out to hike the Gila Wilderness, phone first to be sure your trail is open.