About that tree…

About that tree…

It’s that time of year again when holidays collide, traffic turns toxic and tempers grow short.  With all the pressures, all we hikers want to do is escape to the trails to shake it all off.  Ironically, one of the most popular trails in the Phoenix area---one that’s supposed to help us unwind---often ends up adding to our seasonal distress.  I’m referring to the annual drama surrounding the Camelback Mountain Christmas Tree.  Regardless of whether the City of Phoenix decides to allow or prohibit the tinsel stick on the mountaintop---somebody will drag one up there anyway.  For the record, I am personally against this practice. Call me Scrooge, but the tree just doesn’t belong there. It’s a buzz kill on a desert mountain peak that creates litter and safety hazards. Still, every year we can expect the controversy to make headline news and cause more heartburn than it’s worth.  Within the Arizona Hiking Group Facebook page (20,000+ members) that I founded, those who have in the past posted photos of themselves grinning with the summit Santa in front of the tree have been both viciously attacked and adamantly encouraged.  From roughly Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, group admins and moderators have had to act as referees when disagreements go malignant. One weekend last season, I spent the better part of an entire day responding to angry messages and a phone call from a member in tears because she posted a photo of herself in front of the tree and had been belittled and bullied within the group.  Seriously----the last time I had to do this was when I was a “room patrol” in 5^th grade.  I do understand that not everybody agrees with my position on the tree. My opinion is not that of the group as a whole. Hell, I even think environmentalist and writer Edward Abbey would have shrugged off the tree because the mountain is “already ruined”.  But, what I do ask is that instead of terrorizing others on social media, you instead direct your comments to the City of Phoenix where they might make a difference. 

https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/camelback-mountain

https://www.phoenix.gov/parkssite/Documents/Flyer%20-%20Camelback%20Mountain%20Holiday%20Tree.pdf#search=camelback%20christmas%20tree

Crack down on illegal parking and stopping at Camelback Mountain trailhead

ECHO CANYON TRAILHEAD PARKING RESTRICTIONS TO BE ENFORCED
Camelback Mountain, Phoenix

Hike South Mountain trails instead

Just like the old adage ---"stuff expands or contracts to fill the space allocated for it"---the newly upgraded Echo Canyon trailhead parking lot at Camelback Mountain is once again bursting at the seams. Even with double the parking, traffic congestion continues to be a problem.  The extra spots fill up quickly and hikers have been ignoring posted regulations and illegally stopping and/or parking along McDonald Drive to wait for an open space. Well, according to a press release issued today, the party is over, folks. You can now expect to be towed and/or ticketed because the City of Phoenix in conjunction with the Town of Paradise Valley is stepping up enforcement effective immediately. Remember, if the parking lot is full, you must leave the area and return later---no idling or parking along the street. Additional suggestions to avoid traffic backups are available on the Echo Canyon/Camelback Mountain webpage at: http://phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/camelback/index.html

As a side note, I avoid this trail.  It's too crowded, has zero wilderness appeal and adds to my stress levels. Nope---city trails in the Phoenix Sonoran Preserve and South Mountain Park deliver a much nicer hiking experience. 

ECHO CANYON RECREATION AREA

ECHO CANYON SUMMIT TRAIL
Camelback Mountain 

Camelback Mountain as seen from Piestewa Peak

After being closed for improvements for nearly a year, the new Echo Canyon trailhead at Camelback Mountain was opened Wednesday, January, 15, 2014. Providing access to one of the most popular, iconic and infamously crowded in-town hikes, the new recreation site features smoother traffic flow, double the parking, restrooms, water and a stabilizing trail realignment. The summit of Camelback Mountain is the highest point in Phoenix and  the aggressive ascent is a prime workout for peak-bagging hikers and cardio trainers alike.
This trail is NOT RECOMMENDED for novice hikers or those who are not accustomed to desert conditions. Although it's frequently touted as a "must do" for out-of-state visitors, Summit Trail is not a walk in the park.  It's an insanely steep haul with loose footing, sheer drop offs and elbow-to-elbow foot traffic.  Prime season for the hike is from November through April.  Off-season temperatures can climb to the triple-digits making it downright dangerous to attempt.  Dehydration---which can be, and has been deadly--- is a common problem for hikers on this route. Additionally, the sheer volume of trekkers using this trail is taking a toll on the terrain---and with so many other wonderful Phoenix hiking destinations, it's smart to test your mettle elsewhere.

LENGTH: 1.23 miles one-way
ELEVATION: 1504' - 2704'
RATING: difficult

GETTING THERE:
4925 E. McDonald Drive, Phoenix
INFO: City of Phoenix, 602-261-8318
http://phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/camelback/camelpark.html

Phoenix Councilman Sal DiCiccio's Take on the City's New Trailhead Parking Fees

UPDATE 9-16-10: THE VOTE ON TRAILHEAD PARKING FEES HAS BEEN MOVED TO OCTOBER 6, 2010. PLEASE CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO REGISTER YOUR CONCERNS: http://copwww05.phoenix.gov/mydistrict/ The latest citizen sacrifice: Hikers The city of Phoenix is getting ready to bleed yet another passionate segment of its citizenry, hitting them up for a few more dollars because they truly care about a narrow aspect of city life and are willing to pay more for it. Then the city will turn around and give that money to its employees. There is insufficient backbone to say no. This time it’s the hikers who will pay. You’ve seen this movie before: Threaten to kill or severely cut some service with passionate (or desperate) supporters. Offer up a disaster scenario if more money isn’t produced. Then, after the initial wailing and public apoplexy, come up with a slightly lesser fleecing of this group to gain public compliance. Hey, it’s only a few bucks and it will keep our (fill in the blank) hiking trails, softball fields, library hours, etc. etc. etc. The Oscar for this performance came during the budget hearings, where police, firemen, libraries and seniors centers were offered up as sacrifices to the fiscal gods if the public didn’t approve a $50 million food tax. Take a wild guess where all the public hearings were held? Libraries and senior centers, naturally. The ugly truth is that the $100 million in new taxes and fees Phoenix has already imposed on its citizenry in the past seven months is not necessary to keep those services and protections. It’s to find enough money to pay for 14,000-plus union-represented employees who average $100,000 a year in compensation. Yes, it was easier for Phoenix to cut after-school programs -- and send more than half of our at-risk kids back on the street, along with significant cuts to seniors -- than it was to look internally and take the significant steps to cut labor costs. By simply getting city employees to make the exact same compensation as you, the boss, we could save more than $300 million a year. Let me repeat this: If we can get public workers to make exactly what you make, we save hundreds of millions of dollars a year. Read on. That average compensation for all employees has gone up $17,000 during the past five years, which means that while you were struggling to survive the worst recession in most of our lifetimes, Phoenix employees got $17,000 in raises. Did you get that? I hope so, because you’re paying for theirs. And you’re going to pay more – for a lower service level – unless citizens rise up and shout “ENOUGH.” The parking fee – at trails you already pay for three ways – is a great place to start. This came about after the city drastically cut services and hours for parks, then gave the parks board the notion that if it didn’t raise money for the general fund, much more would be cut. That’s where the $5 a day parking fee came up (later reduced to $2 – hey, a comparative bargain). Then the city management promised that all the new dollars would go to parks. First off, management can’t promise that. Even the Council can’t promise that, because it can’t commit a future Council. And because both the Council and management already have swept parks funds this year, creating this artificial crisis, you know they’re willing and capable of doing it again. But more importantly, where’s the attention to the real drain, public employee labor costs? Everyone raised Cain when it was discovered that Bell, California, paid its top three employees hundreds of thousands of dollars. How about 14,000-plus employees averaging $100,000? (No, they don’t all make that, but the private sector compensation average for the Valley is $57,000, a difference of more than $40,000.) Connect these dots, and Phoenix is heading for the same cliff as Los Angeles, Detroit, California, Greece and General Motors. And not only does the city not have a plan to deal with labor costs, it doesn’t even plan to have a plan, other than continuing to bleed you. On Sept. 15, the Phoenix City Council will be asked to approve enforcing this latest rummage through your pockets. No Council approval, no new fee. I say it’s time to separate the taxing and spending addict from its drug, which is your money. Doing so would force Phoenix to grow a backbone and restructure its operations for today’s fiscal reality. Doing so requires you citizens demanding that it be so. Councilman Sal DiCiccio represents District 6, which includes Ahwatukee, Arcadia, Biltmore, East Camelback and North Central. He can be reached at council.district.6@phoenix.gov. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD, SEND AN EMAIL TO YOUR REP:http://copwww05.phoenix.gov/mydistrict/

PHOENIX CITY PARKS ACCESS FEES

GET READY TO OPEN YOUR WALLET (AGAIN)! CITY OF PHOENIX PARKS & RECREATION BOARD APPROVES NEW PARKING FEE PROGRAM Budget shortfalls, layoffs, tanking stocks, earthquakes, floods, fires, plague---now this. Set to roll out in “early fall” 2010, a new City of Phoenix fee program will require visitors at five gated parking areas in South Mountain Park and Phoenix Mountains Preserve to purchase parking passes. Whoa---whoa---let’s keep our whining to a minimum, because the fees will only apply to the busiest and most congested access points, where heavy traffic results in higher maintenance costs. The fees will go toward supporting city parks & recreation programs, keeping access open and affordable and, of course, cleaning up after sloppy dummyheads and their beer cans. Soon, park rangers will begin hosting “meet & greet” events to communicate these changes. Until then---- HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: WHEN: begins in early fall 2010 WHICH LOCATIONS WILL REQUIRE THE FEE: Although more than 30 access/parking areas will remain FREE, the 5 most popular locations will require a fee to park. They are: Pima Canyon, Echo Canyon-Camelback Mountain, Piestewa Peak, Dreamy Draw, North Mountain COST: annual pass: $75, 6-month pass: $50, daily pass: $2 WHERE TO PURCHASE: pass will be available online and at City of Phoenix recreation and community centers. The city has plans to install self-pay kiosks in future. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DON'T PAY UP?: for the first few introductory months, nothing---after that though, you may be fined. INFORMATION: http://phoenix.gov/PRL/passupdate.html

SEVEN SUMMITS of PHOENIX

 

The Phoenix Summit Challenge (a.k.a. The Seven Summits of Phoenix) Is held annually in November.
However, if you want to  tackle the circuit on your own, here's the plan: CamelbackMountain • Piestewa Peak • North Mountain • Lookout Mountain • Gila Valley Lookout, South Mountain • Shaw Butte • Shadow Mountain. Can’t get to all of the continents of the globe to conquer the famous “Seven Summits”? Well, then, why not trash a weekend conquering the seven summits of Phoenix. All of the seven highest peaks in the metro Phoenix area are easily attainable and can theoretically be achieved in a single day. However, most hikers will want to break the adventure into two parts in order to relax and enjoy the views on each high point. DAY 1: Southern Section Part one starts at the southernmost destination and works northward. 1. GILA VALLEY LOOKOUT: South Mountain Park 2.660 feet LENGTH: 7 miles RT ELEVATION GAIN: 1.310 feet RATING: difficult GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, follow Central Avenue south all the way to the end where it flows into South Mountain Park. Just past the park entrance gate, turn left into the Activity Complex. Drive past the Interpretive Center and go all the way to the end of the road and park. The hike starts at the Holbert trailhead directly across the road. South Mountain Park is open from 5:30 a.m to dusk and access and parking is free. There are restrooms and running water at the trailhead. HIKE: Follow the Holbert Trail all the way to the end to where it meets the National Trail. From the junction, follow the TV Tower Road for about a mile to the Gila Valley Lookout. The actual high point of South Mountain (Mt. Suppoa, 2,690 ft) is off limits, so the Gila Lookout is the next best thing. 2. CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN: City of Phoenix 2,704 (highest point in Phoenix) LENGTH: 2.3 miles RT ELEVATION GAIN: 1,300 feet RATING: difficult GETTING THERE: From South Mountain Park, drive north on Central Ave to Camelback Road and turn right (east). Continue on Camelback Road to 44th Street and turn left (north). Stay on 44th Street as it turns into McDonald and continue on McDonald, past Tatum to the turn off on the right for Echo Canyon Parkway. Be prepared to wait for parking at the trailhead. HIKE: Just go up. And up, and up. 3. PIESTEWA PEAK: Phoenix Mountains Preserve 2,608 feet LENGTH: 2.4 MILES RT ELEVATION GAIN: 1,190 feet RATING: difficult FEE: beginning in "early fall" 2010 there's a $2 daily parking fee. For more info, visit: http://phoenix.gov/PRL/passupdate.html GETTING THERE: From Camelback Mountain, exit the Echo Canyon trailhead and head north (right) onto Tatum Blvd. Continue on Tatum to Lincoln Drive and turn left (west). Drive on Lincoln past 32nd St and past the 24th St interchange. Lincoln will turn into Glendale Ave. Turn right onto Squaw Peak Drive and follow the signs to the trailhead. HIKE: This is an urban treadmill used by the local firefighters, athletes and spandex-clad beautiful people. But, don’t let the fact that you may be old and ugly keep you away. Carry plenty of water, wear sturdy boots and you too can enjoy Phoenix’s most popular hike. DAY 2: Northern Section Part two starts at the northernmost destination and works southward. 4. LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN: Phoenix Mountains Preserve 2,054 feet LENGTH: 1 mile RT ELEVATION GAIN: 475 feet RATING: Moderate GETTING THERE: From Phoenix, drive north on SR51 (Piestewa Frwy) and turn west (left) onto Greenway Road. Continue on Greenway to 16th St. and turn south (left). Follow 16th St uphill to a nice trailhead near a water tank. HIKE: Head right from the trailhead sign and connect to the summit trail 150. At the first unmarked junction, hang a left for the most direct route to the summit. If you miss that subtle turn off, don’t sweat it, just keep selecting the uphill paths and you’ll end up on the summit eventually. 5. SHAW BUTTE: Phoenix Mountains Preserve 2,149 feet LENGTH: 5 miles RT ELEVATION GAIN: 670 feet RATING: Moderate GETTING THERE: From Lookout Mountain, head back to Greenway Pkwy and go left (west). Continue on Greenway Pkwy to 7th St and turn left (south) Follow 7th St south to Thunderbird Rd. and turn right (west). Follow Thunderbird west and take a left onto Central Ave. The trailhead parking area is located on the right side of the road. Once again, you may need to wait awhile to get a parking spot. HIKE: This is a loop hike. At the trailhead, go left onto trail 306 and follow it to the summit. From the summit, follow the old paved road back down. 6. NORTH MOUNTAIN: Phoenix Mountains Preserve 2,104 feet LENGTH: 1.6 miles RT ELEVATION GAIN: 614 feet RATING: moderate FEE: beginning in "early fall" 2010 there's a $2 daily parking fee. For more info, visit: http://phoenix.gov/PRL/passupdate.html GETTING THERE: From Shaw Butte, go back onto Thunderbird and turn right (south) onto 7th Street. Go south on 7th St. to Peoria Ave and turn west (right) into the park. Follow the one-way park road to the Maricopa Ramada parking area. HIKE: The trail begins on a steep, dirt path and then connects with a paved road that leads to the top of the hill. Once at the end of the road, look for trail 44 to the left. It leads to the highest accessible point as well as a scenic ridge. 7. SHADOW MOUNTAIN: Phoenix Mountains Preserve 1,928 feet LENGTH: 1 mile RT ELEVATION GAIN: 440 feet RATING: Moderate GETTING THERE: This under-appreciated gem of a mountain is accessible from several points in residential areas. We selected the 25th Place trailhead. To get there from North Mountain, exit the park and go south (right) on 7th St. to Cave Creek Road. Turn right onto Cave Creek Road and drive north past the big church. Just before reaching Greenway Pkwy. turn right onto Claire. Follow Claire past 25th St. and take the next right onto 25th Place (unmarked road). The trailhead is at the corner of 25th Place and Acoma. Park along the retaining wall. HIKE: A sweet little traipse through the desert with a short steep scramble near the top. The summit offers up pleasant views of the surrounding area including a weird-looking reservoir and multi-million-dollar homes under construction.