<LINK rev=made href="mailto:groth@pupgg.princeton.edu">  </HEAD> <BODY bgcolor="#ffffe6"> <hr> <center><h1>Hike up Camelback Mountain</h1></center> <p> <center><h1>June 20, 2002</h1></center> <p> <hr> <p> OK, this isn't a bike ride or a camping trip, but it's a similar kind of outdoor activity... <p> When I grew up in Scottsdale in the 50s and 60s, we lived within a mile of Camelback mountain; my Dad still lives in the same house. I often wondered what it would be like to climb to the top. In those days, there was no trail to the top and it was illegal to climb the mountain. But people still tried - I recall watching helicopters trying to get people that had fallen or been injured, or just got stuck, off the mountain. <p> I guess the city of Phoenix finally figured since people are going to do it anyway, why not make a trail and maybe fewer people will get injured. I'm not sure that worked, but in any case, there's a trail (actually two: one from the east side - the camel's rear - and one from the west side - the camel's head). Lots of people hike up the trail these days. In fact, my brother spent a long time with my Dad this year and used the hike up Camelback as his daily exercise. He kind of dared me to do it, so I did! <p> <hr> <center> Click on a thumbnail to see a larger picture. </center> <center> <table border=3 cellpadding=5> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_01.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_01.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=88 height=73></a></td> <td>I took along my GPS and recorded the hike. Here's the track starting at my Dad's house near Mummy mountain and going to the top of Camelback and back. The deviations in the two tracks are 50-100 feet and are GPS errors, since there's only one trail! Also, along the ridge, I put the GPS in my pocket so I could use both hands, so the GPS lost signal occasionally. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_02.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_02.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=51 height=37></a></td> <td>The altitude profile and total climb recorded by the GPS. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_03.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_03.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>I tried to take a picture of the destination from my Dad's patio at the beginning of the hike, but the flash went off. It was a little before 5 am and still dark, but getting light. Anyway, it's a nice picture so I left it in. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_04.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_04.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>I turned the flash off and tried again, steadying the camera on the back of a chair. Looks like I didn't hold it steady in the vertical direction. In any case, the destination is the top of this mountain in the middle, about a mile and a half away as the crow flies. I'm going to walk to the eastern (left) end of the mountain and hike up the trail that starts there. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_05.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_05.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>I've walked south until I'm near the eastern end of the mountain. This is the corner of Invergordon and Cholla. Cholla leads up to the Cholla Trail. Fortunately there didn't seem to be any cholla cactus along the trail. One variety of such cactus is known as "jumping cholla" and can really get you if you're not careful. The destination is the peak that the road points to. The higher peak to the left is the peak on the camel's rear. This is about 5:40 am and the sun has been up about 15 minutes. Why did I start so early? It turns out the high temperature today is going to get to 112 F! </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_06.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_06.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Part way up the trail which switchbacks up the camels rear. The destination is the peak in the center. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_07.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_07.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The view to the southeast, in the direction of south Scottsdale and Tempe. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_08.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_08.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Farther up the trail. Some hikers are coming back already. (Not everyone goes to the top, I don't know whether they did or not.) The destination is the peak behind and lower than the two peaks in the foreground. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_09.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_09.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The view to the northwest showing the west end of Mummy Mountain. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_10.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_10.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Farther up the trail. I believe this is where the trail finishes going across the camel's rear and starts going up the ridge along the camel's hump. Up to now, it's been hiking. From here to the top, it's a combination of hiking and rock climbing! </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_11.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_11.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>On the ridge, looking to the top. If you look closely, you can just make out people on the top. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_12.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_12.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Looking somewhat east of north. You can find my Dad's house in this picture. Second white house down from the flat spot on the east end of Mummy mountain. There's a better picture for finding it later. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_13.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_13.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Looking southwest with downtown Phoenix in the center of the picture. The tall buildings running to the right are mainly clustered around Central Avenue which runs north-south. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_14.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_14.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Almost there! </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_15.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_15.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The Phoenix mountains to the west of Mummy mountain. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_16.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_16.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Getting even closer - downtown Phoenix with one more corner to go! </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_17.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_17.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Made it to the top! Here is a sequence of pictures which starts with Phoenix to the southwest and pans around to the right (clockwise from above). </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_18.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_18.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>This person hiked up from the camel's head. He was part of a group (essentially everybody else you see in these pictures from the top) that had hiked up as training for hiking the Grand Canyon. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_19.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_19.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Squaw Peak, part of the Phoenix mountains, in the center. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_20.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_20.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Some of the Grand Canyon trainees resting or exploring the top. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_21.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_21.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Almost due north. The west end of Mummy mountain. The Mountain Shadows resort and golf course is in the foreground. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_22.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_22.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The east end of Mummy Mountain. Again, my Dad's house is in the picture, but it's a little hard to find. The range in the background is called the McDowell Mountains. About 1/4 in from the left is kind of a bump sticking up in this range. I believe that's Pinnacle Peak. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_23.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_23.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The mountains in the background are the Four Peaks. They are about 40 miles distant. Right in the middle of the picture is Kiva School where I went to grades 5-8. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_24.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_24.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Looking almost due East. The mountain "block" just to the right of center is the Superstition Mountains where legend has it there is the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_25.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_25.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Downtown Scottsdale in the foreground with Mesa in the background and Tempe to the right. Also the camel's rear with part of the trail and, in the lower left, part of the ridge along the hump. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_26.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_26.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Arizona State University (Tempe) is just the upper right of the Palos Verde tree in the right center of the picture. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_27.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_27.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Almost due south. That's 56th Street running north-south in the center of the picture. The large white building to the west (right) of 56th is the Motorola plant where my Dad worked when we moved to Arizona in 1956. The small mountains in the center are the Papago Buttes. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_28.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_28.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The mountains to the right are the South Mountains. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_29.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_29.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The last of the series from the top. The view towards the airport and south Phoenix. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_30.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_30.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Getting ready to start down. Here's the ridge on the hump and the rear with the trail on the side. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_31.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_31.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>A little farther down. This shot gives an idea how steep the ridge is in a section where you don't have to do rock climbing! </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_32.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_32.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>A little farther down (still on the ridge) a rattlesnake crosses the trail. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_33.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_33.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Another shot of the snake. I think it was looking for shade. The small whitish thing at the right end is the rattle. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_34.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_34.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Farther down, I believe almost to where the ridge ends and the trail on the camel's rear starts. The McDowell mountains are in the background with the stubby Pinnacle Peak to the left. My Dad's house is almost exactly in the center of this picture. To find it start at the flat spot on Mummy mountain. Below it there is a road which forks to the right. Just below that is the white roof of a house. Below that is another white roof - my Dad's. There's a vacant lot (used to have a house, but it was torn down to make way for a new one) to the left and a greenish roof to the lower right. </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_35.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_35.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>Almost home! Here's the house in the middle of the previous picture. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_36.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_36.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>There's where I've been. It took me just over 4 hours for this hike and it's now about 9:10 am (Arizona doesn't go on daylight savings time! Except the Indian reservations and federal lands!) I was the slowest up and down but since it was my first time to the top I wanted to go slow and stay in control. There are many places where, if you trip or slip, you'll fall a long ways! Some people were actually jogging the trail! (Of course, not the rock climbing parts!) </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_37.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_37.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The camel's rear. The trail is visible as it comes around the rear from the left and goes to the ridge on the right. There's more of the rear out of sight to the left and down. The trail starts out on this side and does some switchbacks on the far side before comming out again on this side. </td> <td align="center"><a href="HIKE_20JUN2002_38.htmlx"><img src="HIKE_20JUN2002_38.gif" alt="Camelback Hike" width=102 height=77></a></td> <td>The camel's hump with the ridge going to the top. According to my Dad, during the height of the tourist season (January, February) someone has to be taken off by helicopter about once a week. </td> </tr> </table> </center> <br> <hr> </BODY> </HTML>

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