Not sure about you, but I’ve had my fill of summer. I’m ready for fall, and it is depressing to know that we we are still weeks away from relief from the heat. Anyone else jonesing to wear a hoodie??

Thanks for being here! I’ve had a very positive response to the newsletter so far, and we have a bunch of new subscribers. Thank you!!!

In this week’s edition:

This advice from a firefighter in California is applicable here in Phoenix, too. There is a reason many of the trails are closed from 10am to 5pm, it is too hot to be hiking and when you have to be rescued by the fire department, you put 10+ firefighters in danger.

Hiker rescues have dominated hiking news here in Phoenix lately:

Two hikers rescued by helicopter off of South Mountain.

Hiker rescued during trail closure.

Out of town hikers rescued on Camelback.

Hiker rescued & airlifted from South Mountain.

Parents Could Face Legal Trouble for Hiking with Kids in Extreme Heat.

It doesn’t have to be this way and it starts with us locals. It is easy to assume that the people being rescued are from out of town and they don’t know how dangerous it is to venture out into the desert in the heat, but, that assumption is incorrect. Per a study by the Phoenix Fire Department, 71% of people it has rescued from trails, were Phoenix residents.😲

Learn more on how to Avoid The Rescue in this article at ABC15.com

Per a recent article on YourValley.net, the planned renovations for North Mountain Park are back on track and plans call for construction to begin in fall 2026.

Living in the Northwest Valley of Phoenix (Arrowhead Ranch in Glendale to be specific) we have easy access to Lake Pleasant Regional Park, which we try to take advantage of as much as we can. That can mean running out there at the end of a day and enjoying a sunset & some quiet, or getting out on the trails and enjoying the amazing lake views from the peaks. (link)

Exploring the desert should be something everyone can enjoy. Fortunately, the Phoenix metro area has a growing number of trails designed with accessibility in mind. Learn more about the options available here in the Valley. (link)

Exploring the desert should be something everyone can enjoy. Fortunately, the Phoenix metro area has a growing number of trails designed with accessibility in mind. These paved and barrier-free paths make it possible for wheelchair users, families with strollers, and anyone with limited mobility to experience the beauty of Arizona’s outdoors.

See all of the details here.

I’m a big fan of ‘views of the mountain’ over ‘views from the mountain.’ If you’re like me, and want mountain views from your house, and be able to walk to the trail, this custom home in Glendale is a unique opportunity

See more about this house here.

I’ve hiked off and on while living in the northern parts of the Valley, not sure I could call myself a ‘hiker’ though.

I’ve lived in Arrowhead Ranch since 2009 but prior to 2022, I had only done a few hikes in Thunderbird Conservation Park despite it being just minutes away. We moved into a neighborhood near 59th Ave & Deer Valley and it was close enough to walk to the park from home.

Still, most of my hikes were about exercise and were the same route most times. I enjoyed the time in the park and knew there were many more trails to explore.

One day in late November 2024, I had to be in the Norterra area and decided I would try a new trail after my appointment and enjoy a a beautiful fall day out in the desert.

While hiking the Dixie Summit Trail, I was thinking through some things on my business newsletter (Everything Arrowhead, which focuses on the community of Arrowhead Ranch) and it occurred to me that it could be fun to publish a hiking newsletter & blog where I shared the trails I was hiking and news & info on the hiking scene in the Valley.

I figured I can’t be the only novice hiker looking to spend more time on trails and in the desert.

So, HikePhoenix was born and I spent a lot of time hiking this past winter & spring.

I’m sure you’re thinking, why is it July and you’re just posting this now? Yeah, me too, lol. Life gets busy and HikePhoenix remained a someday project for several months.

I think the heat of summer and not being able to hike as much has peaked my interest again, so we’re off and running…

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