Tom's Thumb - McDowell Mountains

Tom's Thumb is a prominent 140-foot tall Proterozoic granite monolith, formed roughly 1.4 billion years ago. Located in Scottsdale, Arizona, this quartz-monzonite intrusion stands out due to differential erosion, showcasing jagged, blocky terrain that contrasts with the smoother surrounding metamorphic rocks.

Mushroom Rock Trail to Sky Island - Sedona

I began my hike on the Boynton Canyon Trail at 8:21 AM. After hiking 1.7 miles in 39 minutes I arrived at the unmaintained trail going to Mushroom Rock and Sky Island. Then it was a 1 mile hike to Mushroom Rock. It took me 1 hour and 25 minutes to get there from the Boynton Canyon Trail. After a short break I continued up to the Sky Island. From there it was 0.4 miles to the far end of the Sky Island. It took me 55 minutes to get there. I was 3.1 miles from the Boynton Canyon Trailhead, and it had taken me 2 hours and 55 minutes to get there. After taking lot of photos I started my hike back down. I reached my mini van at 2:05 PM, and I was hot and exhausted. It was 94 degrees. My hike was 6.3 miles round-trip, and it took me 5 hours and 45 minutes.

"Sky Island" is a local term for the high, isolated sandstone finger or butte between Boynton and Long Canyons. 

Peak 2881 - Goldfield Mountains

I began my hike at 11:06 AM, and it was 101 degrees. It took me 1 hour and 6 minutes to reach the 2,881-foot summit. My round-trip hike was 3 miles and it took me 2 hours and 27 minutes.

The peak is primarily composed of colorful Miocene-age volcanic and pyroclastic rock formations.

 

Bursera Loop Trail - South Mountain Park and Preserve

I began my hike on the Bursera Canyon Trail at 3:48 PM, when it was 101 degrees. It took me 22 minutes to reach the Connector Trail junction and then head up Bursera Canyon. That was 1 mile. Then I reached the Bursera Trail junction 19 minutes later. Next was the Gila Trail junction. That took 16 minutes. From there I followed the Bursera Trail back to the trailhead. My loop hike was 3.3 miles, and it took me 1 hour and 33 minutes.

The trail is named after the Bursera Tree (Bursera microphylla) commonly know as the elephant tree. It grows on the rugged south-facing slopes of South Mountain Park. They are a protected native plant in Arizona.