SporkSports - South Mountain, Spring 2003

(5-31-08)

For about two months in the springs of 2003 I made several outings to South Mountain park in Phoenix to hike around, sight see, and take a few pictures. While I'm personally a little more a fan of the high mountains of Arizona (above 5000 feet) because they are a lot more green, there was still plenty to enjoy at South Mountain. Shown here are a few of my favorite pictures.

March 1st, 2003, My first hike at South Mountain was just a day or two after nearly a week of heavy rains, so the mountain was quite green with spring plants.
March 1st, There's something like 125 miles of trails at South Mountain park. It certainly isn't hard to believe considering the 16 mile-wide mountain range is covered with trails like this.
March 1st, Dark spring rain clouds weigh heavy above the mountains.

March 10th, Clear skys and the city in the background of this desert setting.
March 10th, Another hiker heads west along the ridge.
March 22nd, View of Phoenix to the north, from the west parking lot.

March 22nd, A stone structure near the visitor parking area.
March 22nd, Further to the south is the summit parking lot, elevation: 2611 feet according to my GPS. Actually about 30 feet lower than the true summit where all the local radio and TV antenna are.
March 22nd, The view from the summit lot is to the south, of the quiet neighborhood of Ahwatukee, with indian reservation a few miles beyond that.

March 22nd, A small cactus, um, probably a prickly pear, but I'm really not so great at identifying desert plants. Hey, I'm a photographer, not a botanist.
March 22nd, A magestic lavender bloom among the thorns.
March 22nd, Not sure what the story was behind these, but there were about 30 of these white flowers tied with ribbon to trees leading along the trail I was hiking.

March 22nd, The setting sun casts a red glow on a rock formation.
March 22nd, The sun sets behind the mountains.
March 22nd, A view of the last light setting behind the mountains.

March 23rd, About a half mile in to the Pima Canyon trail; one of the park's widest and most easily hiked trails.
March 30th, A view to the north from the Beverly Canyon trail.
April 5th, A picture of my GPSmap 76s showing where I am on the trail. Other information on the display from right to left, top to bottom: Currently doing 0.0mph, moving average is 2.7mph, GPS accuracy is 14.6 feet, (n/a), hiked 1.08 miles from parking lot, currently at 1615 feet elevation, facing 348 degrees (north), barometric pressure at 954 millibar, (n/a). My location is shown as the triangle at the middle with the circle around it.

Page Created: 5-10-03

March 1st, 2003, My first hike at South Mountain was just a day or two after nearly a week of heavy rains, so the mountain was quite green with spring plants.	March 1st, There's something like 125 miles of trails at South Mountain park. It certainly isn't hard to believe considering the 16 mile-wide mountain range is covered with trails like this.	March 1st, Dark spring rain clouds weigh heavy above the mountains.
March 10th, Clear skys and the city in the background of this desert setting.	March 10th, Another hiker heads west along the ridge.	March 22nd, View of Phoenix to the north, from the west parking lot.
March 22nd, A stone structure near the visitor parking area.	March 22nd, Further to the south is the summit parking lot, elevation: 2611 feet according to my GPS. Actually about 30 feet lower than the true summit where all the local radio and TV antenna are.	March 22nd, The view from the summit lot is to the south, of the quiet neighborhood of Ahwatukee, with indian reservation a few miles beyond that.
March 22nd, A small cactus, um, probably a prickly pear, but I'm really not so great at identifying desert plants. Hey, I'm a photographer, not a botanist.	March 22nd, A magestic lavender bloom among the thorns.	March 22nd, Not sure what the story was behind these, but there were about 30 of these white flowers tied with ribbon to trees leading along the trail I was hiking.
March 22nd, The setting sun casts a red glow on a rock formation.	March 22nd, The sun sets behind the mountains.	March 22nd, A view of the last light setting behind the mountains.
March 23rd, About a half mile in to the Pima Canyon trail; one of the park's widest and most easily hiked trails.	March 30th, A view to the north from the Beverly Canyon trail.	April 5th, A picture of my GPSmap 76s showing where I am on the trail. Other information on the display from right to left, top to bottom: Currently doing 0.0mph, moving average is 2.7mph, GPS accuracy is 14.6 feet, (n/a), hiked 1.08 miles from parking lot, currently at 1615 feet elevation, facing 348 degrees (north), barometric pressure at 954 millibar, (n/a). My location is shown as the triangle at the middle with the circle around it.