Hiking Twists Your Mind

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Geo: 33.494, -111.921

Hiking in Phoenix twists your mind. Because you actually hike IN the city. But not in the city like down city streets--you're in nature preserves that wrap you in solitude, surround you with desolation, and thrill you with singular beauty. All this while being actually very close to the congestion and stress of the city you're escaping.

We hiked up Lost Dog Wash Trail in the McDowell-Sonoran Preserve, a 36,400 acre preserve--that's 1/3 the total land area of Scottsdale and the largest urban preserve in the county.

Lost Dog Wash trail is an entry point to the preserve, a gentle hike up to Taliesin Overlook with majestic views of the north valley, Camelback, Squaw Peak and Pinnacle Peak, and breakoff points to other trails.

Check out the photos for the continuing discoveries of bobnkaren.

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Photos

Lost Dog Trailhead
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is the largest urban preserve in the country. Photo courtesy greensource.construction.com because their photo was lots better than mine.

New Trailhead Facilities
In this fragile environment, you have to think green. Photo courtesy greensource.construction.com. I thought this description was cool:
"Sustainable-design elements within the main structure include a 3,000-watt roof integrated PV solar array, which provides 100 percent of the trailhead's energy needs. Composting systems used in restrooms will save approximately 200,000 gallons of water annually. Graywater and rainwater harvested from the roof and stored in a 4,000-gallon underground irrigation cistern supplies 75,000 gallons of irrigation water per year. As a result, the project's only utility connection is for potable drinking water."

Gorgeous Stands of Cholla Cactus
The Cholla is sometimes called the Teddy Bear cactus, but there's nothing cuddly about it.

Bob & I with the North Valley below
Our new friends, the ones who insisted I have their coupon for a free birthday cake, snapped this evidence of our ascent to Taliesin Overlook.

Bobby with our Great New Friends
These guys were very fun. If you see them, say hello for us.

Don't Drink The Cactus
No, no, no. It won't save you in the desert, it will give you a belly ache and diarrhea. It's very alkaline. But you can whap off a slice and put it on sore spots to relieve pain. Or hollow it out and use it for cooking--just add hot rocks. Or make a gruel from the ground seeds. Or cook the buds for a cabbage-like food. Or imbed the spines in hard pitch and use as an awl or prick yourself a tattoo or two. But DON'T DRINK IT. ver' bad

Wash of Lost Dog Wash
It's up the wash and down the wash and up the wash and down the wash and...

Comments

[lindadttn]

Awesome! You look like you're having fun! Don't forget about us poor little Diva friends who are freezing our bottoms off up north!

[bobnkaren]

Re: Awesome! I would never forget my cute little divas!!!! I miss you guys and I think about you every, every day and how I can torment you with this balmy weather.