A morning hike up Piestewa Peak

I usually do not start hiking in the Sonoran Desert until the first of November, but the Phoenix area has been unseasonably cool and with more rain than usual for October. Because of this, the mornings are cool, the desert is green, and the chance encounter with a rattler is lessened. All of these factors lead me to an early morning mid week hike to a mountain range located in the heart of the city.

Piestewa Peak, formally known as Squaw Peak, is located just a few miles north of the downtown area, but once you enter the preserve you are hard pressed to know you are surrounded by five million people. I first heard about this hike years ago with a girl named SeaBee, as she took me here to do a night hike to see the city lights under cover of darkness. This day I was solo, looking to get in some fresh air and exercise in the early morning.

I could be wrong, but it does seem to me that many Phoenicians add this relatively quick summit as part of their weekly exercise ritual, as you see people running up and down the trail. I take my time to soak in the views, as well as catch my breath. Even in the cool of the morning sweat beads off my brow. 7:30 a.m. and it is in the low 80 degrees with no clouds.

The hike itself is only 1.2 miles to the summit, but it is fairly straight up. At night we saw the resident fox that lives up here, scrounging for crumbs left by hikers. This morning the fox is nowhere to be seen, but a couple of curious squirrels come out to say hello and soak in the sunshine.

I fill my soul with peace and a sense of satisfaction with reaching the summit. I meditate for a spell, then head back down. Nothing like being home by 10 a.m. with a full day ahead of me after a nice hiking workout. Such is the retired life for me.