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Lilia Menconi is worried about foreign hikers. “They stay at resorts where someone tells them, ‘Everyone is hiking Camelback Mountain!'” Says Menconi, a hiking master and author of several books on the subject, including last year’s Take a Hike Phoenix, the 82 different local Includes hiking trails. “And so they go unprepared and get sick.” Even for experienced hikers, hiking in the desert can be dangerous and full of unknown obstacles they wouldn’t find on the more temperate Pacific Coast Trail or the Appalachian Trail to the east, Menconi says it’s hot outside – like trying to get into the Summer months less than 6 km to hike. “And remember, any hike you start at sunrise will get hotter and more dangerous.” For this reason, she prefers night hikes, although hiking at dusk has its dangers. “You’re racing towards the sunset and don’t want to get stuck on a trail in the dark.” Knowing when the trail opens and closes isn’t a bad idea. “Do the math. A two-mile hike that starts at 5pm means you’ll get off track by 7 or 8. Is the temperature miserable at that time? I always tell people to work it out ahead of time and.” plan to be off track for half an hour after sunset. “Wearing a headlamp or flashlight is essential on nighttime hikes, and in risky times of the year it may be wise to stick to familiar trails.” And please tell someone where you are going go and when you want to come back, “Menconi begs. In Menconi’s book there is no more important rule than the one about water.” Bring a liter bottle of water every two miles, “she warns.” Remember, these water bottles are weight Wet your hair and shirt is something Menconi does to stay cool on a hike, carrying a spray bottle and doing some diapers put a plastic bag with ice cubes in a bandana and let it melt while hiking. When half the drinking water is gone, Menconi says, it’s time to turn around and go home. “It doesn’t matter whether you made it to the top or not. Better to be alive than to say you have achieved your daily goal. ”If you bring your dog with you, you should also pack extra bottles of water. Better still, don’t take your dog on a day hike at all in summer. (You may not even have the option; for example, hikers are not allowed to take dogs on trails in the city of Phoenix once the temperature has reached 100 degrees.) “I have this rule for humans too,” says Menconi. “In summer in the desert, twilight or dawn are the only healthy choices. And every season of the year, hiking is about having fun, getting exercise, and getting home safe. ”Here are some of Menconi’s most popular easy to moderate hikes for the summer months: Quartz Ridge Trail at 32nd Street and Lincoln Drive is a little over two miles long with an elevation gain of 500 feet. “I like to keep my hikes short and shady in summer, and this follows a wash between two mountains so that you have shade almost all the time. There’s a nice smooth start, then a Baby Hills or two. At the end of the larger ascent you will arrive at a bench from which you can see the mountains in the north and the city in the south. And for some reason I always meet the nicest people this way. ”An easier hike is the Cat’s Peaks Loop over the Blevins Trail. This is located in Usery Mountain Regional Park in the East Valley and is about three miles long. “But there is no climbing, just walking,” promises Menconi. “The elevation gain is maybe 300 feet and it’s a flat, fine trail. It’s not very rocky and has beautiful views of the Usery Range and the Superstition Mountains, and you don’t have to climb up to see them. ”Cat’s Peaks Loop is filled with wildlife – mostly birds and lizards – as well as lots of lovely cholla and Desert vegetation. “It’s very lush for a piece of desert,” says Menconi. “It’s peaceful and quiet and not very crowded, especially at dusk.” There is a major difference in elevation – nearly 1,300 feet – along the Black Mountain Trail near Cave Creek. This is for the more experienced hiker, warns Menconi. “It’s in a very small nature reserve and there isn’t much of a parking lot. The hike itself is a straight shot and a really tough workout. The summit is at 3,400 feet and gives you a pretty unobstructed view of the entire valley. If you can make it this far, you’ll really be in shape. ”Keep Phoenix New Times Free … Since we started Phoenix New Times, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Phoenix, and we want it to be that way remains. We offer our readers free access to concise coverage of local news, food and culture. We produce stories about everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with bold reporting, stylish writing, and staff who have won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Feature Writing Award to the Casey- Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with the existence of local journalism under siege and the setbacks in advertising revenues having a bigger impact, it is now more important than ever for us to raise funds to fund our local journalism. You can help by joining our “I Support” membership program which allows us to continue to cover Phoenix without paywalls. Robrt L. Pela has been writing weekly for the Phoenix New Times since 1991, primarily as a cultural critic. His radio essays are broadcast on the Morning Edition of the KJZZ subsidiary of National Public Radio.
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