Friday, the 13th

Curt took the camera along on today's hike. It was a new hike for the group, Sunrise Trail to Sunrise Peak at McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale.

I had every intention of going along, because it was a new hike, but I needed a day to clean off the kitchen table. You laugh, but right now I have three 'biggies' on my plate.  Mondays are hiking meetings followed by two days of hiking each week. That involves sending a weekly email, keeping track of each hike and the forty+ hikers, recording their miles, etc. It takes time. Writing Your Life Story class has started. Twenty-five+ folks are registered for the class. I have spent a couple of days rounding up more books, verifying emails and finding a space and time for a second class. That led to a third class for the veteran writers. That also took time this past week. And of utmost and foremost importance right now is Fight for the Cure, the week of activities for the cancer benefit in our resort. Right now, I spend about 2 or 3 hours each day working on that. Any paper that needs attention, filing, completion, etc. is placed on the kitchen table. I can say as of this evening, the table is cleared!

Now back to Curt's photos of today's hike.

 Forty four hikers gathered at the head of the trail on the brisk Friday morning.

a well maintained, easy to follow trail

 winding along the hillsides in the Sonoran desert

 a steady climb

 a green ocotilla growing along the trail

 Four Peaks in the distance, no snow on 'em this week

 and the trail continues to go up....

 a view of the housing developments from near the top

 look at the size of the homes!

 can you see the canal in the center of the photo? 

and the smog along the horizon?

 The fountain in Fountain Hills

"One of the world's highest fountains, the 560-foot tall plume of water, shoots to the sky and is visible for many miles. The Fountain is set in the middle of a 30 acre lake. It spurts a column of water for 15 minutes every hour on the hour between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., seven days per week. On windy days, the fountain may not be operating. If the wind reaches 10 MPH, the Fountain automatically turns itself off. On most days, the water from the Fountain only reaches a height of about 330 feet. That's because there are three pumps operating the Fountain. Usually, only two are in use, with one of them being a backup. When all three pumps are operating together, water stream can get as high as 560 feet. You won't hear the fountain when it is working--it's very quiet! Once a year, on St. Patrick's Day, the Town of Fountain Hills adds color -- green, of course -- to the water. The Fountain has been operational since 1970."

 having lunch at 3069'; breakfast was at 1722'

 a look back at the trail

 Two miles of steady climbing with some of the most awe inspiring views of all the other hiking destinations in the area.

There is another hike scheduled in this area later. Maybe I will make that hike.

Later next week, there will be posts of our visit with Miss Willa. Probably won't be anything new until then.