In June 2004 I moved to Arizona from Oregon. Unfortunately this was just as the hiking season for Oregon was getting started. So almost as soon as I could I started hiking in Arizona. One big difference between Arizona and Oregon in June is the temperature! My first hike out brought that home to me. The Spring Valley hike was only 4.6 miles (out and back) but by the time I got back to the car it was noon and I was about dead from the heat. So I learned, start early for Arizona hikes....

All the guidebooks I've been looking at that discuss hiking and backpacking in Arizona point out that there are 6 distinct zones in Arizona. I've not learned them all. The Phoenix valley seems to be in the Sonoran zone. This is the desert. Apparently most people avoid hiking in the Sonoran zone during the summer. So I learn from the locals quickly... I'm doing my next summer hike further north. It's cooler and there's water.

Below are some items relating to my Arizona hikes.