The Arizona State Parks Board is showing how to get things done during tough economic times. The state legislature should be taking notes as the board inked deals to keep 5 more parks open through the fiscal year.
hiking
Usery Park Offers Great Trails Close to the City
Unless you live in the Phoenix area, the only time you’ve probably heard the phrase “Maricopa County” is in relation to its relentlessly self-promoting sheriff, Joe Arpaio. I’m not going to dive into that can of worms except to say that he doesn’t exactly do much to foster warm, fuzzy feelings for the county government.
That’s a shame for the Maricopa County Parks crew. This system of more than 10 parks isn’t perfect – but it is outstanding. I am constantly thankful for the county parks department, and all it has done to provide a lot of quality outdoor recreation for residents and visitors alike. I feel like it’s a bargain to hand over my $6 whenever I go into a county park (See a complete list of fees). Huge props to the county parks staff, especially for McDowell Mountain Regional Park. That one’s my favorite by a long shot.
Today, I’m focusing on Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa (we’ll get to McDowell in a future post). This is getting you close to the famous Superstition Mountains, and within very nice sight of the Four Peaks Wilderness Area.
Creatures and Caves – Hiking Canyon Vista and Walnut Canyon
In July, I was off to Flagstaff for more a bit of fun. For my wife, it was hard work – she was competing in the Mountain Man Half-Ironman Triathlon around Upper Lake Mary.
I woke up at 4:30 a.m. right along with her after a fairly fitful night of sleep at the Travelodge on Butler Street (thanks, trains, for blaring those horns!). The Travelodge isn’t too bad if you can manage to get a room on the side of the hotel that doesn’t face the tracks.
Anyway, my plan was to get her on her way, cruise out somewhere for a hike, then return by the time she was switching from the bike portion to the running. I grabbed a ranger at Lake Mary, who told me to head to Canyon Vista Campground. I did as he said, including following the path to the back where there was parking for a trailhead. There was also a map, but it actually didn’t seem very up-to-date.
I stepped into my La Sportiva Trango Trek boots (just in case it was a rocky trail), fired up the GPS, double-checked my water and headed off. For those who wonder about such things, I was also carrying my Pentax K100D-Super, an assortment of lenses, some energy bars, a Leatherman and a sturdy knife. My mistake was not packing my headlamp. More on that later.
If you bear left, the path first goes past a cool rubble field (you can also veer right if you want to go rock [...]
My Recipe for Vacation Fitness – Preparing for Adventure
Adventure travelers can’t just hop on a plane and hope we’re ready for the rigors of wandering from the beaten path. When I became infatuated with the idea of climbing New Zealand’s Mt. Ngauruhoe, I concocted a training regimen that would let me enjoy climbing to 7,520 while carrying a fully loaded backpack rather than just surviving it. This active stratovolcano is not to be taken lightly – it stood in as
Mt. Doom in Lord of the Rings for a reason.
Figuring out my goal (getting through the Tongariro Crossing and getting to the top of Ngauruhoe in 9 hours or less) was the first target, and it should be yours, too. Once you know what you want to accomplish, you can devise a plan to suit your adventure. Here are some of the components of my plan – borrow some ideas in getting ready for your adventure!
Push the Iron
I honestly do not enjoy lifting weights. But my weekly lifting session was essential for building upper body strength. I tracked my exercises, their order, the amount of weight and the number of repetitions. I also switched a few elements to keep my body guessing. I’ll probably add a second weekly session soon.
Pack in Some Training
The Phoenix metro area is silly with steep climbs, though none are quite as steep or loose as Ngauruhoe. Still, loading my backpack exactly as I would in New Zealand and climbing around local peaks helped. It also gave me a chance to dial in the fit [...]
