ValleyHik.es

Cholla Mountain, noted as Hill #3406 on the Granite Mountain Multiuse Area map, is a slightly smaller cousin of its neighbor Granite Mountain to the east.  This hike is an easy, ambling 3.3 miler that only makes a single approach of the mountain itself.  It is a good hike too find some unexpected panoramas and otherwise enjoy the solitude of an isolated area of the Sonoran Desert.

Getting There

Harder than the hike itself is getting there.  Starting from the corner of Alma School Parkway and Dynamite Boulevard in Far North Scottsdale, it is a 3.9 mile drive across increasingly rough terrain to reach the trailhead.  A vehicle with some clearance is required.  My Rav4 was up to the job but I wouldn’t take anything smaller and certainly not a sedan.

From Alma School heading east, Dynamite is renamed Rio Verde Drive.  Take Rio Verde east for one mile. As soon as the boulevard narrows to a two-lane road, watch for 118th Street on your left.  It is poorly marked and is not paved.  Turn left and take 118th north for two miles.  You will pass equally primitive versions of Dixileta Drive and Lone Mountain Road.  You will also note from the signage that  you are entering a “Future APS Testing Area”, and one sign warns that no motor vehicles are allowed.  I ignored this sign for the following reasons.

1. I have already accessed the roads behind this sign from other entry points that do not prohibit motor vehicles.
2. There are plenty of trails behind this sign that permit dirt bikes, dune buggies, and other motorized vehicles.
3. The route beyond this point is a generous one-lane road where two approaching cars could easily pass each other and is obviously designed for vehicular traffic.
4. There are several parking areas and turnarounds past the sign.

Driving Map

The Hike

Continue north along the west side of the mountain along Trail #24.  The initial couple hundred yards of this hike take you through a breathtaking boulder garden as the trail narrows from jeep road to single track.

Turn left to stay on #24

At Mile 0.5 Trail #24 comes to a T-junction and turns right. To the left is an unlabeled but perfectly navigable trail that appears to head for Slant Mountain and possibly Brown’s Ranch.

Avoid the temptation to turn right, perhaps logically, towards the mountain.

Instead, hold out for this intersection, which will send you in the "right" direction.

At Mile 0.7, you’ll come to a pair of intersections. The first offers a trail to the right that seems to go in the direction you would expect but is clearly discouraged by piles of brush and explicitly prohibited even to horse traffic – although not hikers. Resist the temptation to turn right and instead continue to follow Trail #24 to the left, which then almost immediately meets up with Trail #21. Continue to follow Trail #24 as it then turns right back to the north.

Cholla Mountain from the north

At Mile 0.8 you will get that right turn to the east that we’re expecting at a fork whose left turn is unlabeled but whose right turn is still clearly marked as Trail #24. About 50 meters later, you’ll experience déjà vu at a second fork – same description, same right turn.

From here the trail seems to go bit further north and away from the mountain than absolutely necessary, but at Mile #1.2 it makes a U-turn of sorts and quickly brings you back within an enjoyable buffer zone of the north side of the mountain.

Up and Away

At Mile 1.7, you’ll find that you’ve traversed that buffer and are building to a climb over the northeast corner of the mountain, providing some of the most interesting scenery so far. Of course, as usual, I had 40+ pounds of progeny on my back, so this surprise ascent seemed – once again – not absolutely necessary.  However its charm is undeniable.

Picnic Breakfast, Alone at 3068 Feet

The Boy, Silhouetted by the Eastern Sunrise

At Mile 1.8 there is a small clearing that makes a suitable spot for a halfway-point picnic break.

The Boy tore up about a quarter mile of Trails #24 and #28 after breakfast

Stay The Course on Trail #24

At Mile 1.9 you’ll find the opportunity to take Trail #44 left to the east toward Granite Mountain. Instead continue straight ahead south on Trail #24.

Now Go Right on Trail #28

At Mile 2.0 you’ll come to a fork where Trail #24 continues left and east toward Granite Mountain. Here we will finally quit Trail #24 and instead bear right and to the south on the narrower Trail #28.

At Mile 2.5 the trail makes a hard left in the opposite direction you would expect. Then it will meander southeast and once again overshoot the mountain, this time the southeastern side.

Trail #30 heads straight back towards Cholla Mountain's south side.

Relief comes at Mile 2.7 and the intersection of Trail #30. Turn right, to the west, logically back towards the southern side of the mountain.

You’d never know if from these photos, but the last 500 feet take you through a garden of possibly a thousand mature ocotillo cacti.

During Miles 3.0 – 3.3 you’ll walk through a garden of several hundred mature ocotillos that no photo could capture with justice.

Back at the parking area, with the boulder garden in the background

At Mile 3.3 you’ll recognize the back side of the rock garden you started at. The path forks and Trail #30 appears to veer left and to the south. Continue right and to the east. Moments later you’ll intersect the original Trail #24 about 30 meters uphill from the parking area. Scramble down the rocks and you’re done.

Black Mountain Trail is popularly known as a fairly steep climb over the course of little more than a mile. In reality, the trail itself it only 0.8 miles and climbs 1056 feet. However, because there is no way to park near the trailhead, you’ll end up hiking 1.2 miles each way and climbing 1234 feet.

You will pass several impressive homes along the first portions of this hike.

Park on Schoolhouse Road in Cave Creek just south of Cave Creek Road. Simply leave your car on the west side of the street in the dirt along the road. At this point the elevation is 2165 feet. Start hiking and follow the dirt road north and uphill towards the mountain. After 0.4 miles, keep your eye out on the left for a small sign that says Black Mountain Trail. Here you are at 2343 feet of elevation.

Keep an eye out for this sign on your left.

The next 0.8 miles are a steep climb over jagged rocks and loose gravel. Hike carefully and consider using hiking poles to help you clear some of the harder passages. At times the trail can be hard to follow but you’ll always work your way back to it.

At 0.4 miles after the trailhead, you are halfway up and you will come to small clearing and you may notice two trails straddling the west side of the mountain. The trail heading down the hill is the old trail, back when hikers would park in the LDS Church parking lot. However houses have since been built in the way which is why hikers now must follow Schoolhouse Road for nearly a half mile to reach an actual trail.

Stan, Charles and me at the summit

The top of the trail affords views of nearly the entire valley, all the way south the Camelback Mountain. This morning, there was a swarm of annoying bugs so our euphoric celebration at the 3399 feet of elevation was short lived. The hike down was faster but still offers opportunities to slip or fall, so caution is still a must.

This crosscut combines a few unofficial and a few official trails to take you from the community of Legend Trail in 85262 to the community of Troon North in 85255, both in Far Far North Scottsdale. It also affords you the option to climb Slant Mountain.

Today I hiked this with my 21-month old son. He hiked Miles 0.0-0.6, 1.5-2.2, 3.4-3.5, and 5.0-5.1 on foot. (A mile and a half total!) The rest of his time was spent as an extra loveable 30 pounds on my back.

Safety First!

Start at the unmarked Majestic Schiffhauer Trailhead one mile east of Pima on Legend Trail Parkway at a small pull off just before Preserve Way. Follow the trail in its only direction – which is south.

At mile 1.1, there is an unmarked fork. Turn left.

At mile 1.5, there is a tiny optional loop to the right with a simple campground. Although early in the hike for a break, your 21-month old will appreciate a break for blueberries.  You can see an old fire ring, a wooden bench, and a variety of domestic brew cans in various states of decomposition.

A nice pitstop for blueberry breakfast

At Mile 1.6 you will come across a two-bar metal fence where you can turn right and do a nearly quarter-mile linear loop that will put you 10 feet from where you just were. I simply went over the fence, my son went under.

It's easier to disobey this than go a quarter mile around it.

At Mile 1.9, you will see two cinder block structures (post in the comments below if you know what they are). At this point, you continue on Trail #20 as it bears left and you spend the next tenth of a mile in a wash.

This circular enclosed structure begs the question of what's inside.

This one has probably seen better days.

At mile 2.0, Trail #20 ends with an “Area Closed” sign, which only pertains to motorized vehicles, and an option to go left or right on Trail #1. Take Trail #1 left (northeast) under the power lines.

Don't worry about these. They say, "To reduce resource damage / Area Closed / to Motor Vehicles / Foot, Horse and Bicycle Travel Permitted"

At Mile 2.1 you will come to a large intersection with options to take Trails #1, #21, #15, and at least one unlabeled trail to the north back towards Legend Trail. Turn right on Trail #21 but then immediately bear left past the “Area Closed” sign. Again, the trail is closed to motorized traffic but open to bikers. You will be heading straight towards Slant Mountain.

Slant Mountain, your primary landmark for the next couple miles.

At Mile 2.3, ignore the intersection with Trail #17. Continue a few more yards along Trail #21 and enter Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve. You will notice that you are still bearing straight toward the east edge of Slant Mountain.

There is an unmarked fork at Mile 2.4. Bear left. Immediately thereafter, bear right and away from the jeep trail and basin. The basin is unsightly enough that you won’t be tempted by it. This trail continues a bit and interweaves with itself. This should not concern you. Simply work your way towards the saddle between the east slope of Slant Mountain and the small hill a couple hundred yards east of it.

At mile 3.2 you will see a small faded yellow sign on the right that says “Area Closed”, and a primitive trail. This is your opportunity to ascend Slant Mountain, which for the sake of my 21-month old I will skip for today.

You can't really see it, but this is a trail ascending Slant Mountain.

At mile 3.4 on the left is the entrance to what looks like the very interesting Brown’s Ranch Restoration Project. Worth researching, but probably also worth physically leaving alone. Please comment below if you know more.

Entrance to Brown's Ranch Restoration Project. Enter with extreme care.

Another trail to the right towards Slant Mountain appears at Mile 3.7, however I suspect this trail merely circumnavigates the mountain rather than going to the top. Please comment below if you know more.

At Mile 4.1 you’ll exit the gated McDowell Sonoran Preserve and be reminded of Scottsdale Ordinance 70: No Shooting.

Exiting the Preserve, but a solid mile to go before civilization.

At Mile 4.4 you’ll pass under another, smaller set of power lines and another intersection of 4 or 5 trails. For our purposes, continue straight ahead towards Pinnacle Peak on Trail #27. You are also now technically on Alma School Road, which here is just a primitive jeep trail closed to actual traffic.  Once it becomes paved and accessible its name is upgraded to Alma School Parkway.

5 Miles in and a humid 85 degrees, but still having fun!

At Mile 5.1 you’ll come to another gate where the dirt road ends and the paved road begins.  This is the intersection of East Dixileta Drive and North Alma School Parkway.  A dear soul was kind enough to pick us up here.

My son's saviour to the rescue!

Page’s rim view trail is ten miles of extreme fun. there’s really no area to start or finish. you can start where ever you want to. whether it’s down by lake view elementary,on top of KOA or the golf course its all the same. Just last month I had a bad experience one of many I’m sure to come. I was going fast down this slope. I fell. I had just enough time to react to turn on my side. my backpack broke my fall. ouch! I’m lucky I didn’t break any bones or get serious hurt. it depends on which direction you decide to take. it you go clock wise it takes anywhere from two hours to about three hours to ride. counter clockwise I found it to be alot faster. depending on whether or not your here to check out the beautiful area. it takes about 2 to 2 1/2 Hrs for all you beginners out there. it takes me an hour in a half.

My boyfriend and I recently took a trip to Sedona and while we were there we had to get in some hiking. We were staying in Oak Creek and decided to hike Cathedral Rock. We filled up our Camelpaks and loaded up the camera. The start of the trail is very easy, and not very steep. You quickly reach a mesa where you can get some great shots of Bell Rock. From this point on you do a lot of climbing so be sure to wear some shoes with good grip and ankle support if you need it. About 2/3rds of the way up you come to a fissure in the rock in which you have a few hand holds, but most you will be required to stuff your toe in the cracks and pull yourself up. Just when you think you’ve reached the top there is more, lots more. The climbing is pretty easy up to the top, but don’t stop there. Once you reach the top, go left. There is a trail that snakes around the side of the mountain and will bring you right between two of the rocks. It’s a little tricky getting up there so slow and easy is the way to go. The climb is worth it as the view and feeling of accomplishment is fantastic. You go back down the way you came, however you will spend a little more time on your butt. Be sure to wear clothing that you can get stained and dirty. If you have a hiking pole, I would recommend it for the climb down, it will make your decent a little easier. To get there from Phoenix, take the I-17 north to the 179 (exit 298). >From the 179 head toward Sedona, once you are out of Oak Creek look for the stone marker that says “Back O’ Beyond” on your left. There is a small parking area on your left once you get about 1/4 mile down the road. The cost to hike the trail is $5 for a 24 hour pass per vehicle. There is a machine at the trailhead that takes cash or credit cards. It’s a 3.2 mile hike and all told it took us 3 1/2 hours, including the time spent soaking in the view and stopping to take pictures and chat with other hikers. Although most dogs would have trouble with the large leaps and ‘steps’ you have to climb to reach the top including having to lift the dog up at several points, there was a dog at the top of the trail as well as a 6 year old little girl. Don’t take this trail lightly though. It’s an easy to moderate trail, but my obliques and shoulders were sore the next day from pulling myself up. Definitely bring some water and if you are desperately in need of restroom, your best bet is to head back to Oak Creek. There is a 76 gas station as soon as you get back into town, Sedona seems closer but there is not a restroom to be found for a while. Good luck and happy hiking!

Hike rim-to-river-to-rim in a single day!

Disclaimer: Do not hike rim-to-river-to-rim in a single day.

I got the idea into my head to do this hike about a year ago, when my friend Melissa told me that she had done it. The hike sounded like a perfect idea for someone who was short on time but with a penchant for adventure. I had never been any lower in the Canyon than to Cedar Ridge, a mere 940 feet (3 miles walking) below the rim on South Kaibab Trail.

Then this Spring another friend, Mike, did the unimaginable. This machine actually went from the South Rim 21.5 miles to the North Rim in a single day, and there met up with friends to begin the return trip the following day. After seeing his photos, I was hooked, and within a few short months had given in to temptation. I ordered a Grand Canyon book from Amazon.com, plotted my course, took a single day off on a Friday and drove up to the Canyon.

Mather Campground.

I pitched a tent at Mather Campground on the South Rim, and took the time to acquaint myself with the Park’s fine shuttle bus system. If you go, be sure to check out the brand-new Canyon View Information Center, which is an excellent, informative resource to plan your time at the Canyon. I returned to my campsite early and went to bed.

On Saturday, I awoke at 4:00, brushed my teeth, and was off. I caught the first bus of the day at Market Plaza to Yaqui Point. There were four of us on this first run of the day, and a fifth was at the trailhead when we arrived. The forecast high on the rim was 86 degrees, but for now it was a refreshing 55. The time was 4:36 am, an hour before sunrise, but the glimmering blue light peeking over the horizon provided ample light to see the trail at least 20 feet in front of us. To look into the canyon, though, was to see nothing but a incredibly large vacuum. All we could see was a dazzling electrical storm wreaking havoc on the North Rim.

	Ooh Ahh Point at 5:00 am.

About a mile into the hike, three of us bumped into each other and discussed our respective hikes. I was heartened to learn that all of us were planning to do the same thing, to hike to the bottom and back up in the same day. I had been agonizing over whether to actually do this, since it is extremely discouraged in all Canyon literature. The only loop hike I had ever even seen in print was the South Kaibab – Tonto Trail – Bright Angel hike, which stops well above the river but provides a more manageable hike. However, I was here to see the river, and once I learned I was not alone, I was infused with bravado and continued enthusiastically.

The hike down South Kaibab was quick and very enjoyable. The Grand Canyon was beautiful, and even in my rush to avoid the coming heat I enjoyed breathtaking panoramas all around me. However, in hurrying, I was also thrusting my toes into the front of my boots with every step, and by the time I reached the bottom they were in some amount of pain. I was actually heartened to see the trail flatten out and rise, as I could now dig in with my otherwise fresh heels.

Kaibab Suspension Bridge.

The other mistake I made on the trip downward was to overpack. I had brought 100 ounces of water in my Camelbak, and two 32 oz. bottles of Gatorade in my backpack. There is ample water on the trail going up, and by the time I had reached the first water station, I had finished off one bottle of Gatorade, and nothing else. I promptly emptied the second bottle onto the ground and packed the empty container into my backpack. However, the extra weight had already taken its toll on me during the hike down. I had also brought five bananas, which was disastrous, and I’ll let you figure out why.

I had descended 4780 feet over 6.3 miles to the Kaibab Suspension Bridge over the Colorado River. From here I had a two-mile walk along River Trail via the Bright Angel Suspension Bridge to the bottom of Bright Angel Trail, and the beginning of my long hike upward. The time at the bottom of the Canyon was 6:45 am, and I had beaten the sun, which was still looming below the horizon. However, as I worked my way up Bright Angel Trail, it quickly popped out. My newly-banana smeared hat was of little use to me, so I stuffed it in my Camelbak and kept moving in the heat. The temperature at the base was forecast to be 102 degrees today, and I could feel it quickly heating up. Bright Angel is reputed to benefit from large amounts of shade, but there are many, many patches of wide open sun, and it takes a serious toll on the uphill hiker.

	Colorado River.

It was 8:30 am before I reached Indian Garden, where the thermometer read 96 degrees. I was a mere 1320 feet of a total 4380 to the top, only 3.2 miles of 7.8 to the trailhead. And I was exhausted. I had pity on the people who were actually packing their tents and sleeping bags back up the canyon, however at least they had the advantage of starting at the bottom. I took a relatively long, 10 minute break in the shade at Indian Garden, and then recommenced my way up.

The last 4.6 miles of the hike were dramatically different than the rest. This area of Bright Angel is very popular for day hikes, and the higher up I went, the more the crowds thickened. As I rose in elevation, the heat backed off, but my growing fatigue outpaced it. I took breaks at increasingly short intervals, and over the last 1.5 miles stopped 4 times. I even put my now-disgusting hat on. I had read at the 1.5 mile resthouse that breaks should be taken by lying on one’s back with feet elevated above the head, so at one stop I positioned myself up against a cliff for shade and positioned myself onto an irregular rock formation with my feet perched above my body. Not 15 seconds had gone by before a woman came around the bend in the trail, mistook me for a hiker than had fallen from the cliff above, and shrieked. I quickly got up and assured her I was all right, but resumed my position and soon felt rejuvenated.

Click here to watch this chipmunk steal my Powerbar.

As I had ascended, cloud cover had been thickening and made the hike much easier. By the time I reached the top, at 12:28 pm, I was sore, but not as fatigued as I had been under the beating sun. I had just enough energy to make it to the shuttle bus stop where I nearly collapsed. As I rode the shuttle bus back to the campground, a violent storm broke out, complete with thunder, lightning, and grape-sized hail. I counted my blessings that I had gotten out in time, and made a mental note to bring a poncho the next time.

The South Kaibab – River – Bright Angel Trail loop is a wonderful hike, but I do not recommend attempting it in a single day. The 16.6 miles are too many to enjoy all at once, and should be spaced over a more forgiving schedule. I plan to come out again and do it with friends this Fall, and will break it into three days, with a night at the bottom, and a second night at Indian Garden. Dayhiking below Cedar Ridge or Indian Garden is highly discouraged by the Park, and any activity that puts you at physical risk is illegal. However, when done responsibly, hiking at the Grand Canyon can be one of the most memorable, rewarding experiences you ever have. The excellent South Kaibab and Bright Angel Trails are perfect places to do this.

I completed a big hike in the Grand Canyon. A rim-to-rim-to-rim hike. I started on the South rim and hiked all the way to the North rim in one day (21 miles in 11 hrs). The first 7 miles is almost 1 vertical mile down to the Colorado river. The next 7 miles is a gradual incline. The last 7 miles is about 1 vertical mile back up to the North rim. Phew, what a hike! I only carried a 15 pound pack with water and munchies (granola, peanuts, raisins and energy bars). There was drinking water every 7 miles. I had enough powder to make 3 quarts of Gatorade. I drank that and at least 5 quarts of water.

Take On the Tanks! – Chris and Sharon discover one of the Valley’s finest trails in the White Tank Mountains.

In the spirit of our love for loop trails, we headed out at the crack of dawn to the White Tank mountains to take on the Sonoran Loop Trail. Neither of us had ever hiked in the White Tanks before, so we were looking forward to visiting that last, uncharted range of the Valley of the Sun. From our home in the East Valley, the trip was a surprising hour and fifteen minutes.

The last miles before reaching the park entrance are flat, farmed, and reminiscent of scenes from Erin Brockovich. So the park itself is especially welcome. Like the many other mountain recreation areas around Phoenix, the scenery in the White Tanks is wonderful, with more kinds of cacti and other vegetation than we could identify in a month. The most immediately obvious factor that made this park different from others we had visited was the abundance of people from the troisième âge. There were more retirees than you would see in an entire day of Walgreens security footage, and most of them were driving Cadillacs. Not one, but two whole ramada areas had been reserved by competing groups. The first was more festive and being fed by a catering company, and the second, more sober, was being emceed by various members of the Maricopa County police force.

Perhaps the draw for these fine people is that the park is staffed exclusively by their peers. The parking booth was manned by a gentleman who had no evident clue where he was, and the woman working in the “Visitor’s Center” had obviously never seen any piece of the park other than the stretch of road between the entrance and her store. She gave us two critically incorrent indications in her directions to the trailhead, so we will go into great detail in the “Getting There” section at the bottom of this page.

Unfortunately, we missed our friends with whom we were supposed to hike, so we took the trail on alone. This was a new experience for us in that the trail also serves as a competitive track. The parking area for the trail appears to hold several hundred cars, but today there were only a handful and we only saw two other souls on the 5.9 mile trail, two mountain bikers who lapped us three times. Because the trail serves as a competitive track, it is all one-way, with signs and indicators throughout.

The trail is generally referred to as a 5.9 mile loop, but there are variations which allow you to make the trip shorter or longer. There are three shortcuts to make the trip shorter, and two “segments” to make the trail longer. We skipped the Technical Segment but took the Sport Segment. Although the map was a bit daunting, the many signs throughout the trail make the navigation easy.

In all, we were disappointed that the trail was so far from our home, because we loved it. The fact that the trail was a loop meant that we were never covering the same territory twice, so every bend in the trail brought new, beautiful views. The intricacy of the trails means that this trail can be almost as long or as short as you want it to be. And while the trail was rugged, it was never very steep or dangerous, and is perfect for hiking, biking, or running.

It had been nearly a month since the last significant rainfall in the Valley and we noticed that the wildflower season seems to be nearing its end. However, the abundance of blooming cacti, especially the saguaros, teddy-bear cholla, cucumber cholla, and horse cripplers, as well as palo verde trees and chile mesquite provided ample springtime scenery. We saw many, many lizards and one very young rattlesnake on the trail.

In all, this is one of the Valley’s finest trails and is worth the visit for anyone. With what Chris calculated was another half mile remaining on the trail, we felt inspired and decided to run the distance back to the parking lot. As it turned out, we were no more than 50 feet away. Again, we love loop trails!

Getting There:Take Highway 101/Agua Fria Freeway to Olive and exit West. Follow Olive 14 miles to the park entrance. There is a $3 parking fee and a map is highly recommended. To reach the Sonoran Loop Trail, follow the paved park road as it winds north for approximately 4 miles. It will dead end into a dirt road with a sign that says “Competitive Track”. The trailhead is on the left just beyond the dirt road entrance.

A perfect entry to a system of beautiful trails.

This fine Saturday morning we teamed up with the Stick and Boots hiking club to check out the Superstition Mountains in all their spring glory. We met up at the apartment of one of S&B’s co-leaders, Pete, then all drove out to the First Water Trailhead Road at the base of the Superstitions. Once on First Water Trailhead Road, the trailhead for Jacob’s Crosscut is 1/2 mile down the road, well before the First Water Trailhead itself.

A total of nine people had ventured out for this morning’s hike, so after final introductions (including Larry, Pete’s partner in crime) were made, the merit of digital vs. 35mm cameras was debated, and – after a two minute scramble up a riverbed – Pete yelled out “That’s not the trail!”, we made our way to Jacob’s Crosscut Trail and hiked across the base of the mountains.

Many of us were excited to see the wildflowers that have been sprouting forth across Arizona in rare form this spring. And while the flowers were beautiful, we were awestruck by the timeless beauty of the Sonoran desert that we enjoy year-round. Especially remarkable were the chain fruit cholla cacti, as well as old favorites like the saguaros and ocotillos. We also encountered several lizards and two horny toads.

After nearly a mile across the pleasant grade of Jacob’s Crosscut, the allure of the mountains themselves proved too strong and we detoured east up Treasure Loop trail. This trail had a significantly steeper incline but provided near instant gratification as it wound up and through various rock formations and provided a terrific view of the Valley and, yes, the wildflowers below.

This area of trails is maintained by the Girl’s Ranch and the Soroptimists, both of whom perform a lovely job and were both represented on the trails this morning equipped with shovels, rakes, bags, and large gloves. The Soroptomists were even lifting heavy-looking rocks and arranging them to reduce wear and tear on the trails. They have done an impressive job of encouraging public use of the trails while preserving the natural environment.

Eventually Treasure Loop wove its way back down to Jacob’s Crosscut. While the rest of the club continued further south, the two of us headed back for the cars and home for a day of work. Hey, Phoenix’s two hottest businesses don’t run themselves.

Getting There: Take AZ-88 east from US-60 through Apache Junction, past Goldfield to the Lost Dutchman State Park. Just beyond the Park entrance, turn right off AZ-88 at the sign for First Water Trailhead. Take the road 1/2 mile to the sign for Jacob’s Crosscut. If you start off on the riverbed, that’s not the trail.

Butts Up, Baby! Butts Up! – Join Rebecca, Anne, Tolin, Mike, Sharon and Chris as they take an off-topic, off-color trip down the Salt River.

Throughout this trip, Tolin repeatedly mentioned that when bringing a group tubing, “the hardest thing is getting people to come the first time.” On this trip, there were four veterans and only two rookies. We won’t tell you who the two rookies were, but here’s a hint: Rebecca organized the trip, Anne is married to Tolin, Tolin drove, Mike brought an inflatable canoe, Sharon brought Diet Coke, and Chris thought a motorboat would be involved.

Setting up the tubes.

We met up at the hardy hour of 8:30am and examined our provisions. Mike had brought a personal supply of margarita, Rebecca had an Italian drink she called Campari, Anne and Tolin brought precisely 11 cans of Natural Ice, and Sharon and Chris showed up with 4 cans of Diet Coke and 2 bottles of water. As for food, there were more sandwiches and bags of chips than were worth counting. Nonetheless, upon our departure we stopped at Safeway for a few more sandwiches, as well as the obligatory waterproof camera (up to 10 feet). In no time at all we were on the Beeline Highway and by 10:30 we were at the river.

	Rebecca and Sharon share a laugh at Anne’s home landscaping techniques.

Mike and Chris were dropped off at the starting point to inflate the Dannon-sponsored canoe. Mike would be navigating the canoe from the front half while the cooler commandeered from the rear. Meanwhile, the remaining four were off to the main office where they rented tubes and were granted all-day bus passes for just $10 each. The bus driver happily awaited them to complete the transaction, as there wasn’t really much else to do considering that business was at about 1/100th of its usual rate. Sadly today was the last day of the season for tubing, and only the first half of the river was even open. The Salt River Tubing website had warned us in advance that the water was only at 1/4 its usual flow, and the going would be slow.

Anne and Tolin were the first to initiate “tube sharing”.

By the time they got back to Chris and Mike, the canoe was almost completely inflated. From there it was a slightly longer-than-usual trek to the water’s edge, given that it had receded about 50 feet. Of the two competing styles of tying tubes together, we chose the “chain” style. The chain style involves tying everyone in a line to one another. Other groups sometimes opt for the “wagonwheel” style, in which every tube is tied directly to the cooler, but Tolin advised that this meant being stranded with the same neighbor for the duration of trip. Knowing we didn’t have that kind of stamina, we chose flexibility over accessibility.

	Chris pulls the crew through a slow section.

The other primary pre-launch preparation was to wrap bedsheets around the tubes. This step is taken because the tubes are black and therefore are prone to becoming quite hot. A group of women next to us actually tied their bedsheets around their tubes, and Chris later wished he had too, as he began periodically slipping through his tube, but overall the sheets helped keep the ride quite comfortable. Once everything was in place, the men relieved themselves (Sharon waited until she was in her tube to do so), and we were off.

Mike outpaced Sharon 6:1 in alcohol consumption.

The ride started off somewhat slow as this part of the river was very shallow. Again, this is a seasonal issue, and during most of the summer the river has about three times more water. But we found ourselves scraping and bumping up against rocks and other assorted objects for the first few hundred feet, inspiring our war cry “Butts Up!”. Stretching ourselves horizontally helped us to glide over those shallow stretches and before long we were in a deeper, faster moving stretch.

	The effects of gallon-sized margaritas.

With Four Peaks looming behind us, the open river before us, and beautiful low-lying mountains all around, we were able to sit back and enjoy the ride. The weather was outstanding: a very comfortable 90 degrees, blue skies, and a gentle breeze. The water was cool and perfect. The mountains we passed were covered with tall, arching saguaros and various forms of wildlife. We shared drinks and food, and our formerly unquantifiable supply of chips rapidly diminished. Mike did a superb job of rationing our supplies, and dutifully maintained our garbage in the front of the canoe. Tolin navigated the thinner stretches of river, keeping us from accidentally marooning ourselves on its rocky edges.

By the end of the day, Chris noticed things were really sinking in.

There were a few more shallow stretches, some so depleted of water that we stood up and dragged our belongings through them. All in all, we had a fabulous time. After five hours we had come only to Checkpoint 2 of 5, but because of the speed of the river this was all the further we could go. There was a hint of the usual crowds picnicking along the beaches, so we joined them to pack up our belongings. We then met two empty, idling buses at the edge of the road, whose drivers helped us load our belongings and took our one group photo. For having spent five hours lying around, we were thouroughly exhausted, but not so much to delay planning our next tubing trip, Opening Day 2001.

Getting There: Salt River Recreation is located in northeast Mesa, 15 miles north of U.S. 60 on Power Road. Click here for directions from their website.