I just moved out to Gilbert and am looking for some hiking/backpacking (even trail running?) buddies in my neck of town, particularly since my current hiking pals live on the other side of the valley.
Favorite spots include: grand canyon, west fork trail, peter's canyon, aravaipa, salome jug, west clear creek (and anything on the rim for that matter!), etc. I'm pretty much open to all terrains/levels of difficulty. I'm also interested in learning more about the technical side of things... climbing, rappelling, etc.
If you're interested, my contact info is listed in my profile. In the meantime I will keep my eye on this forum for new hikes that are posted.
(P.S. - I apologize if this post is in the wrong spot!)
I'm sure you will fit right in, there's plenty of hikes schedule in the forums over the next few weeks, as long as the organizer doesn't look too scary (avoid that wallyfarak fellow ) I'd recommend you sign up for one of them!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
thank you guys for the warm welcome... aw, but I'm not single -- my boyfriend is a big hiker too but he's off fighting wildfires for the summer. I would still hike with you though. guess I should tell you first that I'm a blackbelt... =P
LoL, I was just being playful... There wouldn't be any need to kick my tail. That's too bad about the boyfriend though, I can't compete with a big strong firefighter. :roll: I'm actually training in Flagstaff the next couple weekends for Whitney, then hitting Whitney over in the High Sierras, and then got permits for Havasupai after that. So I wouldn't be available for anything in a while anyways. ;)
Yea, canyoneering is an extreme sport... EXTREMELY dramatic!!! =p
Let me know if you'd like to do a good trail run or hike with a group sometime. Been marathoning the last 4 years and love to mix things up with trail runs. Obviously, local valley hikes/trail runs will be better post Sept as the mornings cool down etc... Love summer overnights up on the rim as well w/small groups. Makes the summer go by quicker if ya do a few of those. This ex Chi-town boy has been here for 10 years and is totally climatized but I need the inclemency occasionally to keep things balanced...
I've been using HikeAZ to view pix & find trails since '06 but never really registered for full access to find trips & hiking groups. Sorry I waited so long..
Married; it's all good.
hi tim, good to meet you -- that is awesome, I am definitely interested! keep me posted on you next trip -- right now i'm working on getting in good enough shape to trail run at the grand canyon this fall (hopefully with much more ease than when I did it in feb!)
In response to oceanwithin:
10-4, will do Kelli.
are you thinking a rim to rim trail run...? been wanting to attempt since i used long trail runs to mix-up and cross-train for my last two full marathons.
keep in mind the back side of the Superstition (1st water to Black Mesa & a few others) has great long & local trails that can be trail run Oct to April. if we're lucky there is water flowing out there during winter months which adds a different element to trail running...
running down south kaibab and hiking back up bright angel is what I'm aiming for. I wouldn't mind picking your brain for good trails to run on around here!!!!
some friends of ours just did that hike but they stayed the night @ the P.R. cabins, then back up B.A. the next morning.
another good East Valley trail run in cooler months: Usery Regional Park; Pass Mtn Loop (7.2 miles).
attempting both trails in one day was pretty brutal, my legs got pretty torn up on the run down. usery pass, i've always wondered about that one - it's close to where I live but I've never made it out. gotta remedy that
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, ankle-twisting, HAZmaster crushing ROCKS!!
Hike Arizona it is full of sharp, pointy, shin-stabbing, skin-shredding plants!
Hike Arizona it is full of striking, biting, stabbing, venomous wildlife!
the boys are right, way too hot for Usery now. however, if it's right out your back door, like you mention, it would be a good training run for you in the cooler months when all the weekend chores are done... that how i treat Usery, house is clean, wife is shopping & I step on the gas to do a quick 7 miler.. :idea:
*nods* usery is gonna have to wait indeed. actually after reading some of triplogs about humphreys, a trip up there is sounding appealing. I've been up on the rim every few weekends but those trips generally mean solo hiking - which I am kind of wary about doing in unfamiliar territory. but that's why I joined HAZ, to meet more fine folks like yourselves to possibly adventure with out of the heat
when it's not an inferno outside I try to stop by camelback/a-mountain (since I pass them both during my looooong commute) a few times a week to get some hiking in after work... i'm really missing being able to do that right now! can't really complain though, since the rest of the year is amazing for hiking ;)
Route Editor
Route Scout
) I'd recommend you sign up for one of them!
That's too bad about the boyfriend though, I can't compete with a big strong firefighter. :roll: I'm actually training in Flagstaff the next couple weekends for Whitney, then hitting Whitney over in the High Sierras, and then got permits for Havasupai after that. So I wouldn't be available for anything in a while anyways. ;)
