Summer is almost here!
April 30, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Saguaro cacti silhouttes
I am somewhat sad to report that Spring here in the desert is just about behind us. Now that we are heading into May, I expect that things will warm up pretty quickly here. Luckily, we still have many cactus still in the process of blooming or beginning to bloom!
The saguaros are just now starting to grow their buds and a number of them are already blooming those gorgeous large white flowers, which are our state flower by the way. The saguaro blooms do seem to be a bit early this year. Typically, the flowers on these cacti bloom in mid- May to early June with the fruit harvest then falling into late June early July. We also have many cholla cacti starting to show their colors as well as the Little Leaf Palo Verde trees and the Ironwood trees. So, there is still a lot of color to see out there.
But, there is no denying that the warmer, no….hot, okay, the really hot weather is on its way. With that in mind, we (Take A Hike Arizona) are offering our guests the option of hiking during the cooler parts of the day. From May through September, we will have sunrise, sunset, moonlight, and night hikes. Check out the following descriptions to see what you can expect from each hike:
Sunrise: We begin our sunrise hikes in the pre-dawn hours as the sky begins to lighten. Many desert dwellers are nocturnal and these early morning hours provide a great opportunity to see the desert animals, such as coyote, bobcat, and javelina, as they begin to retire for the day. Sunrise hikes are a great option for those visiting the Valley of the Sun during our warmer months.
Sunset: We begin our sunset hikes about one hour before sunset to ensure our guests have an unforgettable view of the sun setting over the valley from the peak of the hike. As the sun sets, the sky provides a fantastic display of rich color and provides a beautiful backdrop for photography. As we watch the sun set, the city lights begin to flicker on and as we hike back down the trail, we are provided with gorgeous views of these lights around each corner of the trail. During the mid to later months of the summer, we will oftentimes be fortunate enough to witness the stunning desert rainbows that hang over the valley right before evening sets in.
Moonlight: Our moonlight hikes start right at sunset. This allows our eyes to adjust naturally to the darker sky as we hike. During our moonlight hikes, we like to point out various plants that bloom only at night during the summer. We look for bats pollinating the saguaro cacti, we look for javelina rummaging in the undergrowth for food, and we listen for the howl of the coyote and the calling of the Great Horned Owls. We take some time to listen to the “quiet” of the desert night and stargaze at the numerous stars that are so visible in our dark desert skies. This is a great excursion that gets you outdoors while escaping the heat of the day.
Scorpion and Tarantula Hunts: Similar to our moonlight hikes, we start our “hunts” shortly before dark to let our eyes adjust naturally to the lack of daylight. We provide flashlights and ultra-violet (black) lights to our guests to help them “hunt” for the scorpions and tarantulas. Scorpions will actually appear iridescent in the glow of the black lights, which helps us locate them. The flashlights will help us find tarantulas and a number of other desert dwellers that are out and about during the evening hours as well. These excursions are referred to as “hunts”, but none of the animals located are ever touched or harmed in any way. It is a memorable excursion that allows you to see these animals in their natural habitat.
So that is it in a nutshell! Come see for yourself why the Sonoran Desert is considered to be the most diverse desert in the world. You will be amazed at how alive the desert really is. Check out a couple of our summer packages now and book your tour today! Space is limited on our night hikes. Stay tuned for more fun facts about the desert and the latest happenings in our future postings. Thanks for checking out our blog!
Rattlesnake 101
March 27, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Pinnacle Peak visitor
Okay, let me first say that I am not an expert when it comes to snakes. However, with that said, I do know enough about them to be able to admire them from a distance. Call me crazy, but it is always a treat to come across our desert dwelling snakes on a hike. Let me reiterate… I like to see them from a distance. I actually had a great opportunity this past week to do just that!
While out hiking on Pinnacle Peak on my way back down the trail, I turned the corner of one of the switchbacks and whoa….there it was. Surprisingly, I was one of the first to come across the rattlesnake as he crossed the trail. I say surprisingly because I have never seen the Pinnacle Peak trail so crowded! The snake must have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to pass by unhithered. Anyway, the photo at the top of this post is the one of the actual snake I saw on this hike. It was a Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake. After seeing this truly “pretty” snake, I thought perhaps it would be fun to share some information about these reptiles that call the Sonoran Desert home.
One interesting bit of trivia that I learned from the folks over at the South Mountain Environmental Education Center is that there are more kinds of rattlesnakes that live in the Southwest than anywhere else in North America! However, you are more likely to be struck by lightning than bit by a rattlesnake. That should be encouraging to those of you who may be fearful of hiking in areas where rattlesnakes reside. What also may be of interest to you, is that the majority of rattlesnake bite victims are younger (under 30 years of age), male, and inebriated. I think you get the picture. If you mess with the snake, it will mess with you.
Now let’s move on to the rattlesnake that comes to mind most often when talking about the desert southwest, the Western Diamond-Backed Rattlesnake. This particular snake is Arizona’s largest rattler. It can reach lengths of up to 7 feet (or more). I’ve heard that a coiled snake can strike at a distance half its body length. So if my math is correct, that means as long as I stand 30 feet away from this rattlesnake, I should be safe! Bummer. I don’t think my zoom lens is that strong.
So back to the rattlesnake. A rattlesnake is a pit viper. This means that the snake has heat sensing pits to detect warm-blooded prey and predators. These heat sensing pits are located on each side of its face between the eye and nostril. Since people are larger than most desert animals (that’s another blog post), we project a lot more heat and the rattlesnake senses that we are too big to eat. Another feature that defines a rattlesnake is the flattened, distinct triangular shaped head, elliptical pupils like cat eyes and fangs that fold back into its mouth. One of the defining characteristics of a Western Diamond-backed Rattler are the black and white bands around its tail right before the rattle.
Speaking of the rattle, many people do wonder about what exactly is inside that part of the snake’s tail that makes that rattling sound. Well, actually there is nothing inside the rattle. The rattle itself is made of hollow segments of keratin. This is the same substance that our hair and fingernails are made of. The rattling sound is created when these segments of keratin are rubbed/shaken together – think of dry leaves rustling in the wind. I cannot tell you how many times someone walking behind me brushed up against a dry bush on the side of the trail and I’ve stopped short in my tracks looking for the rattlesnake! Now for the “however”. One thing to keep in mind, contrary to popular belief, you do not always hear a rattle as a warning when you come too close to a rattlesnake. Young snakes have only what is called a “prebutton” and really cannot create the rattle sound and for one reason or another an adult rattler may be missing his rattler all together. So always keep an eye out as you hike along don’t just rely on your hearing.
So, rattlesnake 101 desert safety tips:
- Stay on the trail. You may encounter a snake on the trail, but you can see it and it can see you. Don’t go wandering about off trail where you are putting your feet down in areas that are not cleared and don’t go climbing up rocks and boulders where you are placing your hands where you can’t see them. You never know when a snake might be happily sunning itself on the boulder above you and there you go disturbing its fine day.
- If you hear a rattle, stop immediately. Look around for the source. If it’s your 8 year old nephew, then all is good (except for the 8 year old nephew). If you do see a rattlesnake, do not make any sudden moves. If you can, back away slowly to put some distance between you and the person closest to the snake. Seriously, that’s what I would do. Okay, not really. If someone is closer to the snake than you, then their hearing is not as acute as yours and you need to move them back with you away from the snake. More than likely, the snake will move along its way and you can continue your hike. Do not approach and/or try to encourage the snake to move along as it may take it as a challenge.
- It is always advisable to also wear high-topped shoes or boots for hiking in the desert.
- Lastly, stay alert and keep your ears and eyes open!
So those are the quick, (not all inclusive) rules of safety to try and avoid negative encounters with the rattlesnakes. If for some reason there is an encounter that results in the rattlesnake biting someone, the first thing you should do is call 911 immediately. Then have that individual remove all jewelry such as rings, watches, bracelets, etc. Do not apply a tourniquet, do not administer any type of drugs or alcohol or suck the venom out (now we have 2 victims), and do not apply ice. Any person bitten by a snake should be transported to the hospital without delay even if you do not think it was a rattlesnake. And you do not need to take the snake with you to show the doctors what type of snake bit the individual. The doctors will treat the symptoms not the species of the snake.
Just as an added FYI, a typical rattlesnake bite will require 20 vials of antivenin ($3,000 per vial) and a tetanus shot. But look on the bright side, it’s better than running into a rabid bobcat. Oh, did I mention we have those too?
Put your life on the "line" AND go hiking!
March 4, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
"A" Mountain
Okay, so we’re not really talking about risking your life on some extreme hike! We’re talking about hooking up with a fun group of people and riding the light rail to the “A” Mountain in Tempe! Take A Hike Arizona is partnering with Rail Life to get our friends out there to meet each other and network in a fun way! The plan is to meet on Saturday morning, March 21st at 8:00am at Mill’s End Coffee shop on the Southwest corner of 3rd & Mill (right off the 3rd & Mill light rail stop).
For those of you who may not be familiar with our A Mountain in Tempe, the official name of the mountain is actually Tempe Butte. The City of Tempe refers to the same mountain as Hayden Butte. Locals refer to it as “A” Mountain due to the 60 foot tall painted letter A near the summit. For a small bit of land, it certainly does have enough names! But, I digress. The base of Tempe Butte is at 1,150 feet while the summit reaches an elevation of 1,496. For those of you without a calculator (I can’t do math in my head), the total climb is 346 feet and 2 inches. Okay, I just threw in the 2 inches to see if you were paying attention!
The Butte may not qualify as an all out hike, but it does provide a nice quick jaunt uphill (just over 1/2 mile) and provides nice views of downtown Tempe, Tempe Town Lake and the surrounding area. Contrary to how it looks from a distance, Tempe Butte actually supports a nice variety of flora and fauna. You can find cholla cactus, barrel cactus, palo verde trees, mesquite trees, and even our majestic saguaro! As far as wildlife sightings go, you probably won’t find too many javelina or mule deer on this spot of land, but you can find cottontails, jackrabbits, pack rats and lizards!
The Butte is also a designated historical landmark. Just off the trailhead on the Leonard Monti Trail, you can find a number of petroglyphs carved into the rock by the Hohokam people. The Hohokams lived in the Phoenix area between 500 A.D. and 1450 A.D. How anyone can do that without air conditioning is beyond me!
So, anyway, the idea is to have a fun, casual get together while getting some exercise and fresh air! Not only that, but June and I (owners of Take A Hike Arizona) will be there to provide the interpretive part of the hike. That means you get to hear all kinds of fun facts about the desert inhabitants! All you have to do is show up, bring your own water and snacks and comfortable walking shoes. We look forward to seeing (and meeting) you there!
Fun Facts about the desert
March 2, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
The Sonoran Desert is the most diverse desert in the world;
Did you know that:
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There are more plants and animals living in the Sonoran Desert than most forests;
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There is on average a mountain rescue in the valley every 3 days;
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If you’re thirsty, you are already dehydrated;
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There are about 500 edible plants in the Sonoran Desert;
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There have been people living in the Sonoran Desert for the past 12,000 years;
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A jackrabbit can outrun most animals in the desert;
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The creosote bush gives us the smell of the desert;
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The average person that is bitten by a rattlesnake will need 20 viles of antivenin;
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One vile of antivenin cost $3,000.00? (yikes!)
These are just a FEW of the fun facts that you’ll learn on a Take A Hike Arizona hike. Whether you are visiting the valley or a resident, the guides of Take A Hike Arizona want to make your hike to the Sonoran Desert a fun, yet safe adventure. If you are fortunate enough to visit the Sonoran Desert, why not experience, explore and enjoy it by hiking with a professional, knowledgeable guide? All of our guided hikes are designed with you in mind! We choose our trails based on your ability, needs and interests. Our guides are all CPR and Wilderness First Aid certified. We provide your water, snacks, lunch, backpacks, trekking poles and all entry and permit fees. Make the most of your time in the desert and make your hike memorable. Take a hike with Take A Hike Arizona!
Making hikes fun for kids!
February 19, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
So, for those of you who daydream about the day when you and the entire family can go out and enjoy a pleasant hike in the desert, we thought we would share a couple of the things we do to keep kids on our guided hikes engaged and hiking strong!
One of the things that all of the kids love when we hike with them is getting their own disposable camera. For a few dollars, you can purchase a disposable camera with 27 exposures. We like to also provide a “photo guide” to the kids. This photo guide has a list of items that the kids have to find along the hike and photograph. We leave about 10 “free” photos available that they can use to photograph anything they want. This activity has occupied the kids for an entire 4 mile hike! After the hike, the kids love to get their photos developed and create their own album. This also makes for a nice project for the kids to share at school with their class.
Another popular activity that the kids enjoy is doing a desert scavenger hunt. Create a list of things that they have to find such as a saguaro cactus under 12 inches tall or a saguaro with over 10 arms. We also like to have the kids look for specific animals and birds such as cottontail rabbits, lizards, cactus wrens, woodpeckers, or anything else that you have a likely chance of seeing on your hike. We do throw in a few animals that are more difficult to find such as a desert tortoise to make it a bit more challenging. That way the kids don’t complete the scavenger hunt in the first 20 minutes of the hike! This activity is a great way for the kids to learn more about the desert and pay more attention to the ecosystem around them.
Those are just a couple of the activities we do with kids on our hikes. However, just as important as keeping the kids engaged with activities is choosing the right trail for your family. I can’t imagine that anyone wants to end up carrying their child up a trail with a 1,500 foot elevation gain! Yikes! Before setting out on your hike, do a bit of research on the trails available in your area. Once you choose a trail, go with the mindset that the outing is about the enjoyment of getting out into nature with your kids, not just completing the entire hike. There have been times when we didn’t make it to the “end” of the trail, but that was okay. We had a good time just getting out and enjoying the part of the trail we did hike on and everyone was much happier for having turned around when we did versus getting to the endpoint.
Here in the Valley of the Sun, there are a number of great Arizona hiking trails available for families. Our favorites include the Metate Trail (2 miles) at the Spur Cross Conservation Area in Cave Creek, The Wind Cave Trail (3 miles) at Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa, and the Pinnacle Peak Trail (4 miles) in Scottsdale. The more challenging of these hikes would be the Pinnacle Peak Trail at 4 miles with several sections of switchbacks. But the nice thing about this trail is the ability to stop at any restpoint and turn around and head back. Having the reststop as a turning point gives the kids a nice sense of accomplishment without having completed the entire trail.
So, those are just a few suggestions to help you get your hike started off on the right foot! Now, get out there and get hiking with the kids and have a great time!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_2SpJ4pDOQ&hl=en&fs=1]
A Chilly Day in the Desert!
February 9, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Brittle bush in full bloom.
Well, it is a chilly day here in the desert! It started raining yesterday and has continued raining through today. I believe the reported high temperature for today is supposed to be about 60 degrees. brrrr. This does not happen very often in the Valley of the Sun, so for those of us who live here, we appreciate the change in the weather. For those visiting our area this week, it could be worse, at least it is not snowing! Although now that I think of it, I did hear reports of snow and hail just a bit north of us up in the Cave Creek and Carefree areas. I expect that once we suffer through these 3 or 4 days of winter 
, we will be right back in the swing of Spring!! The great news is, the more rain we get now, the more colorful our wildflower season will be!
The Spring wildflower season is truly something to behold here in the Sonoran Desert. We have almost every color you can imagine when all of the different plants and cacti bloom. One of the more popular places for locals to visit during the Spring is Picacho Peak. This area is well known for its poppy flowers. These flowers come in all kinds of vibrant colors like red, yellow and orange and they spread out as far as the eye can see! Another area that we particularly enjoy during the Spring is Usery Mountain Regional Park and the McDowell Mountains. In addition to the poppies, these areas also have countless cacti, bushes, trees and other flora that provide continual color to the desert from mid-February to late May. We have already seen much of the Chuparosa in full bloom. Over the past week, the brittlebush have started blooming with their yellow flowers. These plants practically cover the desert floor from one end to the other resembling a yellow carpet. These plants will continue to bloom for several months to come. Other plants that are the first indicators of spring are the Blue Palo Verde Tree and the Sweet Acacia Tree. These are usually the first to bloom, even before the chuparosa and brittlebush. The Blue Palo Verdes began blooming a week or so ago in the lower lying areas. The Little Leaf Palo Verdes will begin to bloom a few weeks after, as they are typically up a bit higher on the hillsides and more open to the chilly air. The Sweet Acacia Tree, although not an indigenous tree to the Sonoran Desert, has begun blooming in many of the nearby neighborhoods as well. What all of this means is, Spring is arriving! This is our absolute favorite time to hike and bring guests out into the desert. You simply can’t beat the desert scenery and colors! Check out our wildflower photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/takeahikearizona to see some great examples of the flowers we expect to see in the very near future!
Introduction to Take A Hike Arizona
February 6, 2009 by Take A Hike Arizona
Welcome to our new blog!
Take A Hike Arizona is a guided hiking company based out of Scottsdale, Arizona. We offer half-day (2-4 hours) and full-day (5-7 hours) guided hiking excursions into the Sonoran Desert. You can learn more specifics about our company on our website at http://www.takeahikearizona.com. June and I (Tracey) started this company with the desire to introduce our guests to this gorgeous desert we live in! As volunteer stewards with the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, we encountered so many ill-prepared people hiking out in the desert. We came across individuals with little or no water, improper footwear, inappropriate dress for the desert environment, and even scarier than that we met people who didn’t even know what trail they were supposed to be on or where they were supposed to be going! We felt very strongly that we could help visitors to our desert experience and explore it in a much safer and enjoyable manner. Hence, our tagline: Experience, Explore, Enjoy!
Both June and I have always been avid hikers. We have both hiked all over the world in a variety of climates and terrain. But, the Sonoran Desert is our passion! Contrary to popular belief, the desert is very alive with plant and animal life! We have seen so many desert inhabitants on our hikes including coyotes, bobcats, tortoises, snakes, jackrabbits, cottontail rabbits, mule deer, and so many lizards and birds that we could never keep count! Every day brings new sights and sounds on our hikes. We never know what we will experience from one day to the next. This is what fascinates us about this desert we call home.
We are very passionate about what we do. We love to bring both visitors and locals alike out into the desert and show them things that they never would have seen or learned about if they were hiking on their own. And of course our priority is to have our guests experience, explore and enjoy the desert in a manner that is safe for both them and the desert ecosystem. Our goal is to educate people about this precious resource we have right in our own backyard!
Recent Photo's
