The Adventures of Ken: January 2021

Thursday, January 28, 2021

McDowell Sonoran Preserve - Scottsdale

My 9.1 mile hike around Granite Mountain and Cholla Mountain. It took me 3 hours and 31 minutes.

My 9.1 mile route.

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

Beto's Corner - Camp Verde

I had a gratifying lunch at Beto's Corner in Camp Verde. Nice little Mexican restaurant at 10 E. Cliffhouse Dr., near the Camp Verde Public Library.

Bloody Basin Road - Exit 259, I-17

I wanted to see the big winter storm. So early evening, after work at Walmart I headed up to 3,850 feet elevation and slept in my car at my usual spot in the semi-desert grasslands. At dawn it was 30 degrees, and I could only see out one car window, but I was warm. Snow was still falling, and the blanket of snow that covered my car must have insulated me from the cold. I was in an igloo-car. Still, the first thing I did was start my igloo-car and get the heat going, and then clear my windows. Next was to get my igloo-car moving through 5 inches snow. I was worried about that, but despite getting stuck once I was able to drive to interstate without further problems. Meanwhile, my igloo-car had now become just a car. The traffic was light on the interstate, and I headed north into the high country. It was pure delight sleeping through a snow storm, and waking up to a winter wonderland in the usually arid grasslands. Although, I wouldn't want to do it for more than one night. The fun would drop off very fast.

I wanted to go to Sedona to photograph the snow on the red rock. But I was turned back due to a road closure at the edge of town. So I retreated to lower elevation, and drove to the beautiful and warm Camp Verde Library for the afternoon. The only library I can sit down at a table with my laptop during this pandemic. When I arrived, snow was already melting in Camp Verde, which is about 1,000 feet lower than Sedona.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Big Earl's Greasy Eats - Cave Creek

Big Earl's Greasy Eats is my favorite burger joint in the Valley. It's a little expensive but well worth it. It's a former gas station converted into a small restaurant. The Blackened Chicken Sandwich is great!

Granite Mountain - McDowell Sonoran Preserve

I had been debating for a while whether or not to climb this mountain to the 3,526 foot summit. It seemed rather difficult with all the giant boulders. But I finally gave it a try, and it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had imagined it would be. I went up the east side, and came down the easier west side to the Granite Mountain Loop Trail for a 4.8 mile loop. The entire hike took about 4 hours. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve is located in Scottsdale, at the edge of the basin-and-range province.

The Bootlegger Trail

Granite Mountain

Heading up the mountain.

The summit lies ahead.

Onward to the summit.

View from the summit.

I brought my tripod with.

The second summit from the first summit.

The view from the second summit.

The second summit I climbed.

The second summit.

Looking back at the first summit.

A balanced rock.

My route.

Thursday, January 14, 2021

Peralta Canyon / Cave Trail - Superstition Mountains

I finally decided to attempt this challenging hike down the Cave Trail to Bluff Spring Trail and back to the Peralta Canyon Trailhead. I began by following the Peralta Canyon Trail to the Fremont Saddle, and then out to the Lone Pine overlook. From there I headed south to the Cave Trail. The most scary part of the trail is the Devil's Slide. It is important to locate the right gully. I went down the wrong one. The last 20 feet I slid out of control down a chute. The abrasive ash flow tuff scraped my fingers raw. Then I spent the next half hour bandaging 4 painful and bloody fingers. Although I sometimes lost the trail, it was mostly easy to follow. Knowing particular landmarks like Pivot Rock and Cathedral Rock are very helpful.

The entire 5.7 mile loop took me 4 hours and 23 minutes, with an elevation gain of 1,469 feet.