Shaw Butte Christmas Tree 2024

Shaw Butte Trail #306

2024-12-24 0

It was a wintry — by Phoenix standards — 51° when I started my traditional Christmas Eve day hike up Shaw Butte. The Christmas Palo Verde […]

Papago Buttes in early afternoon (2022)

Papago Park

2024-12-19 0

Wife flying in at 8:15 p.m. Left home at 4:45. Hit West Buttes Parking Lot at 5:30. Had to pee: Still no toilet, or even outhouse. […]

I wasn't expecting desert flowers, so I hunted for saguaro.

Phoenix Sonoran Preserve

2024-12-18 0

The Phoenix Sonoran Preserve is in far north Phoenix. There’s two units, South and North, separated by Sonoran Desert Drive and Cave Buttes Recreation Area. […]

A coconut!?

Hawes Trail System

2024-12-11 0

I hadn’t put my shoes on dirt in three weeks, and hadn’t done a decent hike since Coachwhip Trail and Arrowhead Point Trail in Thunderbird […]

Looking downstream from Paw Paw Tunnel's south end. Light at the far end is always visible.

Paw Paw Tunnel

2024-11-01 0

Eighteen months ago I hiked the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath from Bonds Landing to Paw Paw Campground. But Paw Paw Tunnel was closed due […]

C&O Canal National Historic Park

C&O Canal Index

2024-11-01 0

I had done a few hikes, and one bike, along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Tow Path prior to 2019, but that is the year […]

I saw no "trail work in progress", but the RJ Peak trail was in good shape, and their effort much appreciated!

RJ Peak

2024-10-22 0

RJ Peak is not a long hike — only 1.38 miles roundtrip — but there is a “complete” description here. Though short, RJ Peak gives […]