Tuesday, December 16, 2014

McDowell Mountain Trails

 

Saturday was the big Dawn to Dusk mountain bike race here. It rained for several hours in the early morning but cleared up later, although it never got out of the 50s. We decided to take a late afternoon hike a few miles down the Bluff trail to the Pemberton, where the race was taking place. We could see dark clouds in the distance but thought they were moving away based on the wind direction.

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We ended up getting caught in a thunderstorm with cold rain and sleet for a couple miles on the way back. The lightning was pretty scary. We had no idea there could be thunderstorms in the desert this time of year so I Googled it. Apparently the Phoenix area averages one thunderstorm in December every two years. It is also the coldest and cloudiest month, but we’re not complaining.

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Sunday was still pretty blustery so we decided to go for another hike, this time on the Scenic trail. Somehow we never made it to this trail in all the times we’ve been here. It’s a 4.5 mile loop, climbing up and along a ridge with nice views.

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The past two days we’ve ridden our bikes on several different trails and Jim is having a great time. We really love riding the trails here, it’s such a nice change from hiking.

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I’ve been slowly working on cleaning and polishing the exterior of the Lazy Daze, while Jim has been going crazy scanning piles of important papers and receipts with the incredibly small Fujitsu Scansnap scanner we bought a couple weeks ago. It does a great job and takes up so much less space than our old flatbed scanner. And since this is our month to take care of business, tomorrow it’s back to the Mayo Clinic, with a mammogram for me and a dermatologist visit for Jim. Fun, fun.

16 comments:

  1. Bummer about the cold and wet, oh and the paper work, but those skies are stunning.

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  2. Put your post on Pinterest so I would remember these two trails when we get to the Phoenix area this winter.
    Glad you both are enjoying the bike riding, and that Jim is feeling so much better.
    Good luck with both your test tomorrow. I do not envy you Gayle.

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  3. Fun, fun indeed. But what a nice setting. I bet the sunsets and night skies are something to see.

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  4. Brrrrr - lucky you to get caught in THE once every two years thunderstorm. Lightning in the desert does sound scary but your pictures are beautiful. We have a taking care of business 2 or 3 weeks, I can never bring myself to do a whole month. Grin and bear it is the best you can do. And have fun in between. Think how great it will feel to look back on all you've done and know it's behind you.

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  5. I am living a mountain-bikeless life vicariously through you guys.
    Seniors are like kids in that sometimes we don't realize how much we enjoy our "toys" until they are taken away from us. Bobbie and I will make it to Mc Dowel someday and I hope it's when you and a couple of other members of "the gang" are there.
    Life is short... ride fast and hard before it catches up with you.
    Box Canyon Mark, from Lovely Ouray Colorado

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  6. Didn't realize that you guys were at McDowell Mountain this last weekend, we got to experience that crazy weather as well. I think we may have seen you walking Sophie outside your rig when we were walking the loop. Another crazy day of rain here in AZ. Enjoy and stay warm!

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  7. Really good thunderstorm pictures. We've spent several Thanksgivings at McDowell, and they've all been raining or cold or both. The Chamber of Commerce should pay us not to come up in November. Currently we have bright sunshine in front of the bus and then 270 degrees of black skies and rain behind us. The wild flower season should be good this spring with all of this rain.

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  8. Why do I fear that if I were there, you would do pure hiking and never touch your bikes? Sigh, sniffle, and sob.

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  9. Glad to hear you all are getting back to normal excursions. The weather has been a bit quirky lately. I just finished waxing my LD too; it takes me a long time to do it by hand. Hope the doc visits are positive. Have fun!

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  10. I sure hope that storm didn't ruin the crease in Peterman's pants!

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    1. These pants take water repellent to a whole new level. It repels the water before it makes contact. In a heavy rain you appear to have an aura of dryness.

      Jim

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  11. I get the biggest kick out of Suzanne's comments about Peterman!! Too funny!!

    It's been a little damp and cool here in CA, also. Love your photos of the desert with the dark clouds!

    Good to see you are out together hiking and biking:)

    Gayle, we don't do the outside work!!! You are setting a bad example for the rest of us:)

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  12. I love storms in the desert - love watching them come across the open spaces (even when I think they're going in the opposite direction). Wonderful pics, make me wish I was there.

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  13. We didn't have any thunder storms in Mesa. Wow! The cats must have freaked.

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  14. Okay! We're convinced. We want to make "McDowell" a destination. Care to share that beautiful site #?

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    1. So far the best sites we've had were 57 and 60, but any of the perimeter sites in the south loop are nice. There really aren't many bad sites in the entire campground.

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