Hike #36 - Sonoran Preserve Western Summit Reverse Loop(West to East) Phoenix AZ

Hike #36

Date: May 17, 2014 

Location: Phoenix AZ

Hikers: Me & Tina 

Directions:  

I17 North to Happy Valley Road or 7th Street North to Happy Valley Road. North on 19th Ave. Stay Straight onto N North Valley Pkwy. Take 3rd right onto W Copperhead Trail. Take 1st left onto N Melvern Trail and first right onto W Desert Vista Trail.  This trailhead is behind the Fireside Development. No Water/No Restrooms

Sonoran Preserve - Desert Vista Trailhead 

http://phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/sonoran/index.html
or    http://phoenix.gov/webcms/groups/internet/@inter/@dept/@parks/documents/web_content/095100.pdf

Back at the Sonoran Preserve.  New route planned. It is getting hot in AZ.  This morning Tina and I took off at 5:30 AM. (Who's ideas was that?) We are going to do Hawk's Nest to Dixie Mountain Loop to Western Summit back to Dixie Mountain Loop.  The plan is a 6 mile hike.  Should take us under 2 hours. 

Part of this hike was the demise of the dog in hike #22. Refer to terrain on that post. 

The Hawks Nest to Dixie Mountain gives you a good elevated heart rate right from the start. At the top of the hill we turned North West and went to Western Summit.  Only saw a few bikers heading towards us.  It is not too hot yet but the sun came up quick.  We hit the summit and got a good butt buster to the top where the fire fighter rock memorial is.  We headed back down and continued on Dixie Mountain heading North East.  We wrapped around and came back to the start and then headed down Hawk's Nest. 

Sunrise 

It was a nice hike and gave us exactly what we wanted. Distance and Cardio.  

Less than 4 months to the Grand Canyon hike.  We have a good summer training plan that mixes lifting, distance & elevation.  We just need to manage the heat. The 100's are back so the earlier we go the less likely it will be hot. At 7am it was a bareable 70.  Now not so cool. 

14 hikes to go to 50.  Piece of cake.  

Hike #36 Done! 

Check it off!