Cruising Arizona’s Apache Trail

I had a free weekend in mid-January 2014, so my oldest daughter and I took to Arizona’s open roads and checked the Apache Trail off our Arizona Bucket List. The roughly 5-hour loop begins just north of the town of Apache Junction on the eastern edge of Phoenix metro. Most of the drive consists of fairly navigable two-lane blacktop. It’s the 25 or so miles of dusty, washboard road that will keep me from rushing back.

Prior to moving to Phoenix in 2012, I spent 17 years in the Denver – Boulder area of Colorado and did plenty of driving in the Rocky Mountains. So, I am fairly adept at handling steep, winding roads. However, I wasn’t prepared for just how steep some of the sections on the Apache Trail would be. In particular, Fish Creek Hill requires you to ride the brakes almost non-stop as you descend over 1,500 feet in elevation in just a couple miles. Even riding in my vehicle’s lowest gear, the decline was too steep to cruise without the use of brakes. As a result, many drivers, including me, pulled off about two-thirds of the way down the hill to let the brakes cool off – and take a few pictures.

I will let the pictures below tell the rest of my story; however, if I had to name a highlight it would be the awesome splendor of Apache Lake – a Goldilocks sized reservoir sandwiched between Roosevelt and Canyon Lakes along the Salt River. At one point, we backed my truck onto a small driveway on a bluff overlooking the marina area and sat on the tailgate to chow down our picnic lunch. As we resumed the drive, I was awestruck by the towering cliffs shooting out of the glassy, narrow channel on the lake’s eastern end. The visuals ignited dreams of bringing my family back in warmer months to cruise the lake in a rental boat.

Views from the Apache Trail (click any image to enlarge):

Superstition Mountains on Apache Trail, AZ

Canyon Lake Turnoff, Apache Trail, AZ

Canyon Lake Marina, Apache Trail, AZ

Canyon Lake Overlook, Apache Trail, AZ

Apache Trail, Arizona

Drivers view on Apache Trail, Arizona

Natural cave along Apache Trail, Arizona

Mummy rock on Apache Trail, Arizona

Lunchtime at Apache Lake

Canyon Lake Overlook, Apache Trail, AZ

Fisherman at Apache Lake

Burnt Corral campground at Apache Lake, Arizona

Rock formations along Apache Trail, Arizona

Canyon walls along Apache Trail, Arizona

Saguaro cactus on banks of Apache Lake

Rock formation along Apache Trail

Apache Lake Basin, Arizona

Canyon walls towering over Apache Lake, Arizona

Hike review: Phoenix South Mountain, Lost Ranch – National – Pyramid

When skiers use the phrase “earn your turns” they are talking about hiking to a snow-covered section of mountain that cannot be accessed by a chairlift in order to ski it. The phrase that kept coming to me during this hike was, “earn the burn.” As in, burn in the legs.

Let me remind you, I am hiking the trails of neighboring South Mountain to get my legs in shape for a May 2014 hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and back out. If you’re looking to get your legs in shape, burn is good – and so is this hike.

I have not verified this point yet, but I would be willing to bet that this is the only trail in Arizona that leads you through a window of a burnt down structure, as you seen in the pictures below. This spot is known as Lost Ranch. It’s about a mile into the hike from the trail head, and where all the fun begins.

From here, you hike down through a pretty deep wash, then it’s all uphill for about another mile until you connect with National Trail. At this point, you hook a right and head east on National until it connects with Pyramid Trail about four miles later. If you’re in for a little more elevation gain, take an extra ten minutes and hike up Goat Hill for an outstanding view in all directions from 2,504 feet above sea level.

When I hiked it (January 2014), I did not encounter another person on that entire stretch. Once you connect to Pyramid Trail, you do a virtual about-face and head west about 1.5 miles before reaching what many consider the top of the trail.

Here is where I discovered my first petroglyph on South Mountain. I hear there are numerous petroglyph sites scattered throughout the park.

Petroglyph near the top of Pyramid Trail

Speaking from experience, the descent down the face of Pyramid Trail can be challenging, but nowhere near as tough as the hike up it.

Hike details:

Trail: Lost Ranch – National – Pyramid
Length: 9 mile loop
Time: 3.5 hours
Elevation gain: negligible
Difficulty: 1,270 (includes Goat Hill)
Date hiked: January 11, 2014

*Rough estimates. I don’t do GPS.

Petroglyph near the top of Pyramid Trail

Hike review: Phoenix South Mountain, Sidewinder – Secret Trail Loop

The Sidewinder – Secret Trail loop is one of the easiest, yet most rewarding, trails I have hiked on South Mountain. I estimate that the hike is about 2 miles round-trip and there is very little elevation gain. I intentionally chose this trail because I only had about an hour so before sunset and knew it would not take long. The loop took me just over an hour to complete.

I found that the Secret Trail section of this hike was most intriguing since it runs along the desert floor, just at the foot of South Mountain. From the trail, you can see a rocky crag rising up sharply toward the peak. I looked briefly for some of the fabled petroglyphs that are legend to exist in these parts, but I did not see any. Closer examination would have required going off the trail.

I would recommend this trail for anyone who is looking for an be easy trail with spectacular views. Take a look at my pictures to get a taste of what the trail offers. The trail head is located in a residential neighborhood near 36th Street & South Warpaint Drive.

Hike details:

Trail: Sidewinder – Secret Trail
Length: 2.0 miles round-trip*
Time: 1.0 hours
Elevation gain: negligible
Difficulty: easy
Date hiked: January 9, 2014

*Rough estimates. I don’t do GPS.

Check out the pictures and captions below for more insights. Click on pics to expand.

My new year’s resolution: Dropping the F-bomb

I know what you are thinking. Why would anyone want to make using the F-word a resolution? That’s just it: I don’t want to start using the F-word. I want to drop it from my vocabulary altogether.

For many of you, this may sound like a trivial resolution. However, use of the F-word has become all too commonplace for me. Although few people in my social circles have heard me use the F-word, it has become a word I rely on far too frequently in my vocabulary – especially when I’m alone.

Many times, I use it only when I’m talking to myself, such as when I’m driving or going about my work day. I use it as a noun, a verb, an adjective, a pronoun, and often as a complete sentence.

It always sets me back when I hear somebody that I respect otherwise, drop the F-bomb in the course of conversation. One day, it occurred to me that others probably have similar reactions when I use it. And if negative talk has any impact on moods (I believe it does), then I might be able to improve my overall mood by nixing the F-word.

In any case, the word is never used to express anything positive when it comes out of my mouth. My hope is to eradicate it from my lexicon altogether, since it does not benefit me in any way. Effective immediately, I will cease to use the F-word.