Julie interrupts her tanning for a fun hike.
- April 5, 2010
- Team: Julie/ Sassyplatt/ Freeheel
- Summit: 3249'
- Car-to-car: 9 miles, ~2500' gain
Note: click images to see a larger version in a new window
The White Tanks and radio towers as seen from the west Phoenix valley floor. Julie hiked the Goat CampTrail, acompanied by lots of ground squirrels, snakes, bees, and lizards. |
 |
Trailhead has giant posters about becoming dinner for mountain lion. I'm off to a nervous start since I'm the only person there. Note from editor: Compare the cougar sign to this bear sign. |
 |
The desert was in amazing form! |
 |
|
 |
I'm headed up there to those ugly towers, a long way off. |
 |
| Interesting combination of volcanic and granite rock. Brittlebush blooming everywhere. |  |
| The towers from less of a distance, but still a long way off. |  |
| The trail got a lot rockier and harder, I was wishing for my good boots. |  |
| And the trail got steeper... |  |
| A little bird down in one of the 'tanks'. |  |
| Now bushwacking up a ridge to the forbidden towers, which are much closer now but still a long way off. I thought I saw someone in a building on top but kept going. |  |
| The true summit is that point way over there in the background, and about 100 ft. higher. Too far for this day... |  |
| I was happy to make it up here, although the look on my face tells the whole story (a little worried, a little weirded out). The men were working on towers behind huge 10' fences, which I suspect were connected to Luke Air Force Base. They came out to find out what I was doing and probably run me off the top. I scampered off the side and pretended I didn't see them. I hustled all the way back to the car without seeing anyone. |  |
I stopped and took a happier summit shot a bit off the top- hard to believe the valley below has almost 5 million people and I was the only one one up in this beautiful canyon that day... |
 |
|
|
