A business trip to the Phoenix area provided an opportunity to hike in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, 14,000 acres of prime Sonoran desert placed in the public trust by the city of Scottsdale. I suppose I love the desert as much as the next guy but hiking in a hot, arid environment IS actually like everything its cracked up to be.... a change of scenery!
Host to a wide range of cacti, many of which can only be found in Arizona, my entrance to this amazing acreage was the Gateway, an eco-sensitive portal strategically placed to welcome visitors with detailed trail maps, shade ramada's for people, dogs and horses, as well as water features and restrooms. Everything is well planned and beautifully executed so as to have little to no impact on the delicate environment. My only regret is not taking a picture or two of the structure and surrounding detail.
After picking up a map, chatting with the friendly docents and checking water levels, we were off for the Windgate Pass. Along the way are sign posts for a myriad of alternate trails, making it easy to stay on course, but hard to avoid distraction... think kid in a candy shop!
One of the first impressions regardless of which trail you choose, is the soaring Saguaro cacti, guarding the landscape like organic sentinels everywhere you look.
This is a harsh environment, the trails are dry, rocky and lined with small cactus, but the preserve was crowded with people enjoying the views nonetheless. Not everyone was on foot however, as this is a popular mountain bike location too. It pays to be alert when hiking here!
I imagine the summer months would be unbearable, but in February when the weather is crisp and the skies clear, this is a stunning location. If you live in the area and have not taken a few hours to explore, you're missing out!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.