Wind Cave Trail, Usery Mountain, February 26
Usery Mountain Regional Park is a beautiful place to hike, and one of our newest members is leading a hike on the Wind Cave Trail. This one is a climb up to a large cave. I always love it when there is a treat at the end worth hiking to! The question to ask on this one is” are you good with a sustained climb with an elevation gain of 807 feet? We would love to have you join us, AND it is always good to make a realistic assessment of your own fitness level. If the answer is “yes!” let’s go hiking!!! Read the hike details, including meeting time and location.
A Baker’s Dozen for Spur Cross Loop
February 12 was another perfect day for hiking with the perfect spot to hike. Gary Ezzell led 13 of us through the myriad of landscapes that Spur Cross has to offer. First we enjoyed what has to be an ancient saguaro forest. Many of these saguaros have multiple arms that wind around each other and have arms sprouting from arms. This is the area of the hike that also boasts a metate where the native people ground their grains as well as a lily pond! Who expects to see a lily pond in a desert?!
From the saguaros, we continued uphill along the Tortuga Trail with a good heart-pounding climb to a flat mesa with straw-colored wild grass waving in the breeze—a completely different landscape from whence we came. Downhill brought us to the Jewel of the Desert Trail where the terrain changes dramatically to a shaded riparian trail. The sound of a babbling brook is always welcome in the desert. With plenty of water running this time of year, it was nice to have a footbridge to get us across. The conversation was especially lively throughout the hike. Lunch at The Village Coffee and Creperie was a delightful end to a very enjoyable morning. This is such a great way to spend a Saturday morning.
Calendar
You can check out what is coming up by checking out our season calendar.
Sunset Crater Campout
We have a reservation at Sunset Crater National Monument for a spring campout May 20-22. Detailed information will be coming as we get closer to the date. Put it on your calendar to save the date! You will not want to miss this!
Keeping It Safe
At the beginning of each hike, we will gather to introduce ourselves, distanced, and ask what everyone is comfortable with. We will also make room for everyone to talk about what they are not comfortable with. This is to be part of the normal discussion, and we ask that you speak out about what you are not comfortable with. Stay safe, and I hope to see you soon, live and in person, 6 feet away. As always you can get more information by emailing outdoorgroup@phoenixuu.org.