mike & rhonda's latest adventure: Hiking up a Storm

Still filling my days with hikes as I move around Arizona finding both suitable hikes and supporting weather. While in Sedona I hiked Bear Mountain, only 8 km's but pretty much straight up and down with a 2,000 foot elevation change (summit at 6,500 feet) over difficult terrain, with wonderful 360 degree views at the peak. The next couple of days I upped the stakes with two hikes a day including Soldier's Pass (10 km's including a few other trail extensions). Cathedral Rock (moderate, scramble), Broken Arrow to Chicken Point (6 km) and the Bell Rock Courthouse Butte Loop (8 km).

Although there were plenty more challenging hikes to do in the Sedona area I decided it was time to move on after spending a week there and headed west to Prescott via Cottonwood (short stop at the Native American Tuzigoot ruins, mostly reconstructed), settling at the Point of Rocks RV park with the gorgeous Granite Dells right behind my site. Beyond strolling thru the smooth, round rock Dells, I hiked the Thumb Butte Trail plus portions of 4 other trails to create a 12 km loop route, finding some snow and icy path spots which told me it was time to head further south.

My next stop was in Eloy, about an hour south of Phoenix, where good friends of ours (Lorne & Sue) are enjoying their recent winter home purchase. They were wonderful hosts and Lorne even let me win our golf game which was on the Robson Ranch property. We will get together again when Pocahontas arrives later this month.

From there I continued further south to northern Tucson but not before stopping at Picacho Peak for a strenuous but enjoyable hike to the summit. Taking the shorter but more difficult Hunter Trail (3 km straight up) I encountered approx. 10 chains anchored into the rock to assist hikers in the steep uphill climb (not suitable for anyone afraid of heights). It took 2 hours to get to the peak but it was a good challenge and I enjoyed it. I am now somewhat settled in that I have changed RV parks twice in two days and will be searching for a new spot tomorrow due to the spotty internet service (actually terrible) that seems to be pervasive in the Tucson area for some reason. Meanwhile I am hiking in the Sabino Canyon Recreation Area which offers a multitude of moderate to difficult hikes. Today I hiked 11 km's of the Esperero Trail, turning around at Cardiac Ridge (aptly named). There is a shuttle that carries visitors well up into Sabino Canyon but that would be sacrilege to a serious hiker so I will consider it an emergency escape if anything goes wrong on one of my upcoming adventures.

Rain is forecast for the w/e so I will keep my eye on the weather and be prepared to venture on to another 'dry' location if necessary. Adios (since I am close to Mexico).