A Classic, Camelback Mountain, Phoenix, AZ

The classic hike in Phoenix, Camelback Mountain.  I can't guess how many people hike it each day but at least a  hundred.  I drove my wife and daughter from Oro Valley to Phoenix so they could catch a flight back to Ohio and so, while up there, why not do Camelback? Although I have not hiked it in probably 10 years, I have hiked it around 15 times (I used to come out here on business frequently).

From the parking lot, I could see many people streaming up or down the opening ascent.  I found a web site where people post their hike times and it looked like 17 minutes was tops for this slightly over one mile hike.  I hoped to break 30 minutes and shoved off on the very steep hike that gains around 1300'.

After slogging up a series of railroad ties, you reach what is called the "first rail".  Maybe a 40% grade that requires most to use the piping to pull oneself up this.  Then there are several.....

....steep boulder fields so it takes some orienting to pick oneself through the obstacles.  The route is usually obvious but rarely is there a packed trail to follow, just hopping among the rocks.  Finally, I reached.....

....the top in 31:46.  Rats although had the trail not been so crowded, I think I could have been in the 29 minute range.  Others reaching the top looked kind of frazzled like me.  I took a few minutes to.....

...enjoy the view before......

....heading back down.  I took many images on the way down and can say with certainty, this is where Phoenix's hard bodies go for a good outdoor workout.  Phoenix is a city of 6 million and the 9th most populated city in the US.  A very vibrant vibe.  However, after the hike I jump in the car and drive south to the very sleepy.....

....Tucson area although here in Oro Valley and Marana, just northwest of Tucson, business is booming while the mountains look on and beckon to me.  Hmmmmm, what to do on Sunday?