51 New Hikes

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Hike #46 - CottonWood Trail to Yavapai Point, Lake Pleasant AZ

Hike #46

Date: December 13th
Hikers: Me and Megan

Location: Lake Pleasant AZ
Distance: 3.6 Miles
Rating: Moderate (Easy in some spots but not all)
Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Trailhead Link:http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/lake_pleasant/

Back out to a Maricopa Park. 100 mile challenge is still on!

Today Megan and I are doing a hike closer to the water. It was beautiful out with no clouds in the sky. This was a very peaceful hike. We did not see many. We did see a guy and his large white golden initially on the Pipeline Trail. When we got to the top of Yavapai the man and his dog were coming up. He said he was us up here and decided to make the turn up this trail.

I told Meg while we were hiking that the time I came with Julio we did the Wild Burro trail and I was doing my Burro call. HEEEEE HAAAAW! Well as we were rounding the bend toward the end there a Burro was, looking right at us. We took pictures said hello in our Burro voice and off we went. Very Cool. Worth the hike!

Wild Burro

Great trail. I would go back and take out of owners or even someone like Julio who needs scenery.

This was hike one of two for the day but can't call the second new. We hiked Lookout to put an ornament on the christmas tree at the Saddle of the summit and three lower peaks!

Happy Holidays!

Enjoy the pictures.

Selfie!

Very Cool Cactus

Karin at the Top of Yavapai Point

Beautiful View

Hike #46 Accomplished!

Hike 46-2 Lookout Mountain

Plant a seed and watch it grow!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Hike #45 - FatMans Loop - Flagstaff, AZ

Hike #45

Date: December 10
Hikers: Me and Cristina

Location: Mt Elden - FatMan's Loop
Distance: 3.2 Miles
Rating: East/Moderate
Time: 1 Hour 10 minutes

Trailhead Link:http://www.aztrailheads.com/p-69-fatmans-loop-trail-25-elden-mountain.aspx

I did this trail back in my original new 50. It was hike #48. Needed to pickup Megan at NAU and Cristina and I decided to hit the trail before getting Meg and heading back to the Valley.

We did FatMan's pass counter clockwise, so I could call it a new hike. :)

It was cool at first, then hot, then breezy, then perfect!

We had a nice hike up and around. Chit Chatted with a few spots of breathing heavier (me not Cristina) but not too bad. Missed the final quick turn but picked it back up at the end.

Fun place to hike. Some snow on the mountain but not much. Back to the Valley of the Sun!

Definitely a good family hike.

Enjoy the pictures!

I have a very cute person poising for trail pictures!

Follow the Loop

Hike #45 Accomplished
6 More and 20 days left in 2015!
AHHHHH

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Hike #44 - Lake Pleasant Regional Park, Lake Pleasant AZ

Hike #44

Date: December 5th
Hikers: Me and Jim

Location: Lake Pleasant AZ
Distance: 4.5 Miles
Rating: Moderate (Easy in some spots but not all)
Time: 1.5 hours

Trailhead Link:http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/lake_pleasant/

Back out to a Maricopa Park. 100 mile challenge is still on!

Today Jim and I took his season pass and headed back to Lake Pleasant. Since I was on this side of town this morning it was an easy drive up Lake Pleasant Parkway. Looking for a new trail as I get closer to my 51 new by December 31st!

We decided to park at the boat ramp and head South East. We took Frog Tank trail to the connection to Beardsley. Julio and I did the North West section of Beardsley a couple weeks ago.

It was a breezy morning. Still a little cool at 10 am. Late start for us. The Lake had a lot of sailboats out.

We hiked a little over 2 miles and then turned around for a 4.5 mile trip. Almost to the end but turned around at the gate by the dam.

Nice area. No other hikers in sight. Two bikers passes us. That was it.

Enjoy the pictures.

Starting Point

Juncture to Beardsley

Strange Flat area

Cottonwoods below...must be water down there!

Turn around point

Mr Mountaineer with his cool walking stick today

Back at the start view of the water behind the signs

Beautiful Breezy Day on the Lake

Hike #44 Accomplished.

7 to go!

35.5 done = 1/3 done of 100 mile/100 day challenge

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Hike #43 - East Mountain Trail - Peoria, AZ

Hike #43

Date: November 29
Hikers: Me

Location: Peoria, AZ
Distance: 2.5 Miles
Rating: Easy
Time: 30 minutes

Trailhead Link:https://www.peoriaaz.gov/uploadedFiles/Peoriaaz/Departments/Community_Services/River_Trails/TrailsMap.pdf

http://arizonahiking.blogspot.com/2014/12/east-wing-mountain-trails.html

Just finished a hike and decided to do another to get to my 51 hikes by the end of the year. Since I was in the area I googled what was close and this hike was 5 miles away from where I was.

Not much to say. It is in a brand new housing development. The trail seems to be mostly used by bicycles and maybe quads. Some of the tire marks were pretty big. I did not see anyone on the trail. There is a very nice park at the trailhead. A couple kids were playing and there is restrooms and water. I would not go back to this area but there are several other mountains around that may have trails. Might go check them out with my All Trails app active.

The link above showed a couple hikes that I did not know about. Thanks to the arizonahiking.blogspot for posting that with their hike. It's amazing the info you can find on the internet.

Enjoy the pictures.

There is a large parking lot and a big field where kids can play. The trailhead is on the south end of the park. Easy to find. I actually followed a group of kids on their bike into the trail and then they disappeared. Never saw a soul after that.

I am sure you could adventure into the mountains. I saw a couple paths. However my phone was not charged since I used it for this mornings hike and I did not want to get lost alone.

View to the North

View to the East. You can see parts of the 303 to the North East.

Entrance back into the park

My phone was dying so I saved my MapMyHike and then started it back up. The hike was 2.4 exactly what the review said.

Can't count this for my 100 miles in 100 days because it is not in a Maricopa Park. But I can count it for my 51!

Hike #43 Accomplished.

8 to go!

Hike #42 - Slate & Flume - Cave Creek Maricopa Park, AZ

Hike #42

Date: November 29
Hikers: Me and Jim C

Location: Carefree Highway, AZ
Distance: 4 Miles
Rating: Easy on Slate Moderate (rocky)
Time: 1 hours 33 minutes

Trailhead Link:http://www.maricopa.gov/parks/cave_creek/
100 Miles in 100 Day Challenge:
https://www.maricopa.gov/parks/100miles.aspx

Another day to get some miles in for the 100 mile challenge. Annual pass in hand (although Jim lost it) we are back out at a Maricopa park.

Todays plan is a 4 miler. We also need to do an new one. The plan is to start on Slate and either continue to the end or take Flume for a while then turn back.

We were passed by a couple and their crazy dogs. Although the couple was probably crazy!

We saw a family on horse back with a trail leader. The kids were cute they had a stick to lightly tap the horse if needed. They called it a happy stick. The parents in the back did not look as happy.

Nice chilly Arizona Morning. The Slate trail is very easy. Beautiful sunrise view to the east. The flume trail goes to the bottom of a wash and got rocky is some spots. If rocks are not your thing stay straight on Slate and make is a nice easy walk in and out.

Enjoy the pictures!