| rev:text
| - Okay yelpers, once again a lot of conflicting reviews on this place so here's one more to ponder. My background- I'm a runner, I don't like hills, I stick to the pavement, I'm healthy enough to run a half marathon, but will confess being out of breath after a flight of stairs. I have a basic background indoor rock climbing. So with that being said, if you're going to tackle the cholla trail which is what I did, be really honest with your level of health.
1. Time and day: 740am on a Tuesday morning. I would have preferred to get there earlier but it is what it is. Yes, you will run into people, it's a popular trail.
2. Cholla vs echo: from the map, looks like parking is easier to access the echo trail, I was really lucky with street parking, but yet again, was early on a weekday. From the chatter, people say that cholla is easier than echo. But from what one hiker at the summit told me, echo has more vertical climbs, and cholla was scarier to her bc she felt closer to the edge, to the point she decided to descend using the echo canyon trail. Yes, there are times you are literally rock climbing, like reaching for a rock and pulling yourself up. But I liked that, others may not. The trail isn't totally marked, but you can figure it out or see another person and get your bearings.
3. People: it's your attitude that affects this experience. I am a Yankee, so I don't typically greet anyone on the street, but I did this time around. I took the headphones off, took in the view, said hello and good morning to every person I passed. It made the journey so much more enjoyable. I did yield to people as they did for me to pass. I also enjoyed being there early enough that I didn't encounter as many people so I didn't feel rushed or in the way, or someone clipping my heels. At the summit, save for a bunch of teenage punks using an unnecessary amount of profanity, everyone was friendly, and some even took pictures for each other. Again, depends on your attitude.
4. Temperature and attire: at 740am it was a comfortable 68 degrees. When I got to the top an hour and 15 minutes later, it was probably 75 degreesish. By the time I got to the bottom and to my car by 1030, it was a good 81 degrees and I sure as hell felt it. I wore a sleeveless tee, capris, a hat, Camelbak and trail running shoes. I was comfortable and super happy to be wearing a pack. Yes WATER is so vital. Mine holds up to 3L, I filled it to 2 and probably was okay with 1.5 but better more than not enough. With a pack, I was able to keep my hands free for my rock climbing portions. I probably would've benefitted from a hiking boot or shoe that gave me ankle stability. You definitely want something with good traction, as the terrain can be loose and rocky. I rolled my ankle but that's bc I have a weak ankle that hates uneven surfaces, (again, why I prefer pavement). Some had climbing gloves or sticks which seem cumbersome. Again, your preference- I'm not a hand model, so roughing up my hands builds character.
5. Take your time. Cherish your steps, the views, the feels, the people, the whole experience. The climb is worth it.
I would love to go back at an earlier hour and try the echo canyon trail. Hope this helps!
|
![[RDF Data]](/fct/images/sw-rdf-blue.png)
![[cxml]](/fct/images/cxml_doc.png)
![[csv]](/fct/images/csv_doc.png)
![[text]](/fct/images/ntriples_doc.png)
![[turtle]](/fct/images/n3turtle_doc.png)
![[ld+json]](/fct/images/jsonld_doc.png)
![[rdf+json]](/fct/images/json_doc.png)
![[rdf+xml]](/fct/images/xml_doc.png)
![[atom+xml]](/fct/images/atom_doc.png)
![[html]](/fct/images/html_doc.png)