This question has come up a few times lately. My ready answer was “because I can.” Eventually I had to give it some thought and decided that the primary reason I hike is for the camaraderie. Some of you who know my hiking habits will think its strange that a man who likes hiking solo does it for the camaraderie. Continue reading “Why I Hike”
Piestewa Stone Henge
I go up Piestewa Peak on the weekends with my hiking buddies and many weekdays day I hike the nearby trails in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve. I often pick up a beautiful stone and bring it home. Yesterday I henged some of the stones from my pile. Continue reading “Piestewa Stone Henge”
Western River Expeditions
When we got back from our Grand Canyon float trip in June I posted the picture above and a pithy comment on the Western River Expeditions web site. They approved it this week and I’m pleased to share the link here.
On the same day I received a link to one of my fellow travelers compilation video of the rapids. It gives a real sense of the roller coaster feel of the giant rubber raft. Continue reading “Western River Expeditions”
Great Thoughts
Men of Quality
Grand Canyon Rim to Rim
On Saturday May 19 I hiked the Grand Canyon Rim to Rim in a day. I’m 70 years old so it’s quite an accomplishment. In this post I’m going to try and figure why I like endurance hiking and at the same time share some of the great photos I (and Heidi) took on the hike. Continue reading “Grand Canyon Rim to Rim”
Saguaro Flower Festival 2018
The riot of pollinator activity around the Saguaro bloom was a wonderful surprise for me in the last few weeks. I saw bees, other bugs, Hummingbirds and Threshers. It make you wonder what they all live on the rest of the year.
Bear Creek Canyon
To celebrate one of my friend Howard’s important landmarks we went for a hike down Bear Creek Canyon in the San Gabriel Wilderness and survived.
Howard wanted an adventure and I went along without checking the details too carefully. Here are some things you should know about the Bear Creek Canyon Hike that we didn’t know when we set off. Some because we are bad planners some because the guidebook is wrong.
- It is beautiful and wild. We didn’t see another person all day.
- It starts with a 1000 foot elevation gain in the first three miles.
- The next three miles is on a very narrow talus trail clinging to the edge of a cliff.
- There are thickets of poison oak and I got a large exposure on my butt. Why ask why.
- After the first six miles mentioned above you reach beautiful Bear Creek and find out that there really isn’t even a bad trail anymore.
- Boulder hopping and wading in the creek is much slower and more strenuous than walking on a trail.
- You never bring enough water.
- The guidebook says it is 11 miles. It is really about 16 miles.
- Lizards and flowers everywhere.
- Sunset in the mountains can be quite beautiful.
- Howard is slow but steady.
- I am ready for my hike in the Alps at the end of this month.
We were late getting home and made our wives anxious and therefore angry. You can see many more photos of this great adventure and the beautiful Bear Creek Canyon on Flickr here. You better look because you will never hike there to see it for yourself.