Little Four Peaks - Superstition Mountains

I began my hike at 2:58 PM, after I got off of work at Sprouts. It took me 38 minutes to reach peak three, my favorite summit of the Little Four Peaks. It was 97 degrees on top but comfortable. I finished my hike at 4:24 PM. My hike was 1.5 miles round-trip, and it took me 1 hour and 25 minutes. The elevation gain was 567 feet.

Peak Three

Peak Three

On the summit of Peak Three

Peak Four

Picketpost Mountain - Tonto National Forest

It was 83 degrees when I began my hike at 8:55 AM. It took me 2 hours and 30 minutes to reach the 4,378-foot summit. At the top thousands of gnats swarmed my head so I took a quick photo of the mailbox and headed down, and then took a break directly below the summit. I finished my 4.7 mile round-trip hike at 1:12 PM. It had taken me 4 hours and 16 minutes.

Gnats swarm mountain summits because they are drawn to the highest physical point in the landscape to find mates. Warm air currents carry tiny, weak-flying insects up the mountain slopes and pool them at the top.

Drew Canyon Trail via Highline Trail - Tonto National Forest

I began my hike on the Highline Trail at 9:01 AM. After hiking 2.7 miles I arrived at the Drew Canyon Trail. That took me 1 hour and 19 minutes. Next was a 1 mile hike up to the Mogollon Rim. That took me 59 minutes. The elevation gain was about 812 feet. The temperature on the rim was 80 degrees.  After a short break I started back down at 11:42 AM. I reached the Highline Trail in 29 minutes. Then after taking an alternate bypass of the steep section on the Highline Trail I arrived back at my car at 1:20 PM. The bypass made my hike almost a half mile longer. My round-trip hike was 7.8 miles, and it took me 4 hours and 19 minutes.

Caving - Tonto National Forest

This was a beginners vertical trip that I helped with as an instructor.