Ahhh, Piestewa. Climbing the second highest peak (2,610 ft) in the Phoenix Mountains takes willpower—but to many, and I mean MANY, the hike is more than worth it. After all, how many places can one summit a mountain in the middle of a city?
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Finally, it happened. After 110+ days of drought and intense heat, it RAINED. Not just a smattering of drops that move dust around—a lovely, rushing deluge. A much-needed cleaning of air, soil, and spirit.
Dark shadows and sunlight.
The next morning under clearing skies, Dave, Margaret, and I celebrated by hiking Tom’s Thumb Trail, located in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. We started around 9 am—blissfully chilly through the first part of the hike. Layers were the key to comfort.
View from the beginning of the trail.
The trail is a steep one (1,200+ ft in elevation), but don’t let that stop you. There are plenty of waypoints to take a break and catch your breath while admiring the beauty surrounding you. The first mile is the hardest, but once you get to the first ridge, it becomes more moderate.
On our way up.
On our way to the Thumb.
After heavy rain, one would think that the trail would be muddy. Not in Arizona. The path, washed of small pebbles and dust, made the ascent and descent so much easier.
The Land before Time.
Tom’s Thumb.
Air, lightly scented with fresh creosote, combined with smogless skies, made the trip extra special. We snacked upon well-deserved clementines and molasses cookies before heading down.
Days like these are one in 110+.
Glistening saguaro.
What draws so many to this mountain? Maybe it's because it is a Phoenix landmark and bucket list item for a city hike. Perhaps it's the challenge of making it to the top along with the 360° views.
It's all of the above. Around 450,000 hike the Cholla or Echo Canyon trail every year.
You'll find the trails in the Camelback Mountain Echo Canyon Recreation Area between the Arcadia neighborhood of Phoenix and the town of Paradise Valley. Although the fight to preserve this area started as early as 1910, it wasn't until 1965 when Barry Goldwater took up the cause and helped stop further development in the mountain's higher elevation. It became a Phoenix city park in 1968.
A walk up Cholla Lane leads to the trailhead.
This past Monday, Dave and I decided to challenge ourselves and hike up the Cholla Trail. The last time we made the trek was back in 2016 to see the controversial Christmas tree—a tradition started seven years ago by a fellow named John Cressey. Many complained that it violates the "leave no trace" policy of the park service, while others have accused the city of being a Grinch. The tradition continues to find a way to survive within strict boundaries.
Thanks to an early start and a weekday morning, we were able to park relatively close by. For the Cholla trail, parking is located only in designated areas along Invergordon. Be prepared to walk up to a mile to reach the trailhead.
Parking along Invergordon.
The temperature was a perfect 45°, and miraculously, it did not become crowded until our descent. But it was steep—about a mile and a half and 1,500 feet of elevation to the top.
Hiking towards the helicopter pad.
We were treated to spectacular city views, thanks to a cold front that had pushed through the day before.
Papago Buttes in the distance.
A downtown viewpoint.
My favorite part of the hike was the portion just beyond the helicopter rescue pad. It consisted of scaling boulders by following a trail of blue reflective markers — kind of like solving a puzzle, only scarier. Our adrenaline was riding way too high to even think about fatigue.
It is a long way down from here.
Once at the top, we joined hikers from the Echo Canyon side, to visit and gaze at the valley below. We also saw a pro athlete doing a motivational video blog that was quite inspiring.
But where was the tree? A half-eaten ornament was all we saw. Leave no trace.
Fear not my friends. Kris Kringle and his tree will be at the summit from Dec. 21-25, for photos and holiday cheer. This year the tree is dedicated to veterans who have PTSD. If you decide to go, feel free to bring a birdseed ornament to hang for someone you love.
Happy Holidays from AZtoAB!