Camelback Mountain

This last weekend Brandon had a golf tournament, which left me free to roam the valley. For some reason, I have this notion in my head that anywhere I go in Arizona that is off the road I might come across a snake. Well, that's probably because I found a website that told me just as much. So, Saturday morning I decided to find a trail that I wouldn't have to worry about sticking my hand on a ledge right on a rattlesnake. The ol' internet informed me that Camelback Mountain would be perfect. It has enough visitors in the winter months that snakes steer clear of the main path. They were completely correct.....there were as many people there as there are on the path to Delicate Arch in Moab.

I started off feeling VERY comfortable, I've hiked my whole life, this is a small mountain in the middle of the valley, I won't have any trouble. It didn't help when I read that from bottom to top, it was only 1.2 miles. I wasn't told it was 1.2 miles of straight climbing, no leveling off, no changes in grade, just straight up. I had a feeling I was in trouble when I saw the rails.......

It was beautiful up at the top, I had 360 degree views of the entire valley.



I didn't spend too much time at the top because I was feeling a little sheepish that it took me so long to get there. There were people that could have been on the cast of Golden Girls passing me up. I also saw 5 people slip and fall. I didn't dare go too quickly after that, granted most of the people that fell were the crazies that were running up and down. I also saw people with what looked like life vests on...apparently they were going to go waterskiing once they got to the top. I was corrected by a fellow hiker, those vests were actually full of weights and the people were using them to train. Oh. I felt extra out of shape after that.

My back is still sore from climbing down rocks and using muscles I haven't used in a while, but I fully plan on going back! I have a personal goal of being able to beat those grannies!!!