A couple weeks ago I decided I needed to get a hike in at Daisy Mountain before it gets hot. I always thought being the oldest, Adri would be my first to conquer Daisy Mountain. However, on vacation I learned that Zach is my hiker and Adri is at the age where she really doesn't like hiking that much. I thought Zach was a little young to take on Daisy, and I get a little nervous about the cliffs, cactus, and snakes with him, but I decided to let him give it a try.
Of course Zach had no objections when I invited him to hike with me. Daisy Mountain is 6.66 miles round trip, 1,250 feet higher than where we start, and if you count all the ups and downs it's about 1,800 or so feet of elevation gain. I was expecting to have a tired kid that complained a lot but there was no complaining. Zach took on this mountain like a champ.
I did hike a bit slower than when I hike this alone. I think it took us around 4 hours to do the entire hike. I was pretty sore and tired when I was done. Zach claimed he was tired but after lunch he got all his energy back and went swimming for a couple hours.
It was a proud day for me. I got myself a new hiking buddy.
A few pictures. Cuñada said he looks miserable in these pictures. It's just the sun in his face. He kept telling me how much he likes family time, guy time, hiking with me, etc.
Last week everyone was asking me if I'm watching the SuperBowl. I'm not the type of person that likes to watch people play games and live their lives, I like to play my own games and live my own life. SuperBowl Sunday was a bit on the rainy side in Anthem this year. I knew it was supposed to rain most of the night before but it was supposed to be done early in the morning. Daisy Mountain seems to have its own weather though and it rained off and on throughout the day.
I love hiking in the rain. There's hardly anyone on the trails because they think it's bad weather to be out but they don't know what they are missing. I've done a couple hikes in the rain and this so far has been the best one. Probably the only thing that could top this would be hiking during a torrential downpour since the mountain does have a couple waterfalls that run dry really fast once the rain stops.
There are a couple downside. Hiking in wet caliche can be like walking in a fresh poured sidewalk. It's a lot more dangerous coming down the hill and a poncho is a must. However the views are amazing when hiking up in the clouds. The north side of the mountain has the best views during the rain. The clouds come in from the south and wrap around the mountain. That morning there were 90 second intervals of clouds and sun. One minute I could see the next peak over 90 seconds later the entire peak and valley in between were covered in clouds. I have a video of this at the bottom of the post.
Anyone that likes the outdoors needs to add hiking in the rain to their bucket list.
From the base of Daisy Mountain.
I believe this was at the first summit.
After the first summit hiking in the clouds. It was mostly clear at my house just under two miles away.
At the peak.
This cholla stuck out because the new growth was a lot brighter than the rest of the cactus.
Hiking down the north side.
North side looking towards New River and Tonto National Forest.
Not a whole lot to write about in this post. Just some pictures and videos to share.
Zach loves to play with his trains.
Natalie doesn't think this is very funny but I think it is hilarious. Zach thought he was a dog one day and brought me his keys in his mouth and wanted to play fetch. No he's not the first three year old on the planet that has done that.
On a hike doing some coyote scouting. Thought I would head north of Cave Creek. I may have had some coyotes calling back while I started my distressed rabbit call or it may have been some campers. This spot wasn't as good as I was expecting. It was too close to camp grounds and nothing came in.
A week prior I had tried calling in Scottsdale where I could only use a bow. I had four coyotes come in within a couple minutes. I knew where they would be coming from because I heard them calling when I got out of my car. Then came charging in at my call just 15 feet to the left of me. I got my first shot out at 40-50 yards while the coyote was running and missed. Then the next three came charging in one by one. The last one stopped when it got past my call and headed back. I pulled back and was aiming and accidentally released early and missed. The coyotes were very bold and hung around for 5 minutes 80 yards away. When I tried to come out of the bush and take aim at one they finally took off. I wish the coyotes were this brave where I can use a rifle. Coyotes are just too fast for me to get with a bow.
Somewhere in Cave Creek area.
On a hike around Daisy Mountain last week. All the flowers started blooming. The blooms are getting more intense every day.
In between the mountain ranges there is a blue section. That is Lake Pleasant. I think it's the first time I have seen it from Daisy Mountain. It's only a small section of the lake as the rest is behind the mountains. The furthest row of houses is where we are moving at the end of the month.
Poppies everywhere.
Yesterday after work I took the wife on a hike up Daisy Mountain. As we were going up I told her about one of the first times I was hiking up Daisy and some not too intelligent ladies told me they saw a turtle at the first summit. A turtle in the desert. I knew they meant desert tortoise. Well yesterday when I got a few hundred yards from the summit I heard a hissing noise and had a wobbly step. I turned around wondering what the heck I had stepped on and there was a desert tortoise. It's illegal to harass the tortoises but I had to pick it up to make sure it wasn't hurt. While I was checking the bottom of the shell the tortoise peed on my leg. I took it away from the trail with hopes that someone fatter than me wouldn't step on it.With all the hiking I have done in the desert I have found three tortoise shells. However this is the first live tortoise I have found. I was starting to think I would never find one.
Everywhere north of Phoenix is insanely green this year from all the rain.
In this picture it's easy to see Lake Pleasant because of the reflection of the sun.
Gavilan Peak. I still haven't found my way up this one.
