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| - Wow! What can I say about the hike up Camelback Mountain? Where to begin...
Difficulty: a lot harder than I anticipated (I took Cholla trail)... I'm a runner who can run a 5k in just under 21 minutes, so my legs are in good shape, but this is a different animal. If you can climb flights of stairs and have no issues with raising your knees, it'll still be tough. Also, the main reason I gave this a 4 star was the HEAT. I got to the trail at 6:46 (I decided to walk from my hotel to the trail, a good 2 mile hike each way) and it was still hot, especially as I neared the summit and the trail becomes more slanted rocks that you basically have to say a prayer before going up. There is a point with a metal chain to help scale a wall near the top, and that was hot to the touch by 7:30.
The view: Does not disappoint, in fact, it's great from the first marker, and obviously gets better the higher you go, but honestly it's great from the get go. Plus the trail is packed (with friendly, patient hikers... Contrary to some reviews on here) so its tough to get lost.
I would definitely do it again in a cooler month. The terrain is difficult but not impossible and the feeling of being out there with a bunch of other nuts is great too!
On the way down, there was this massive black bug that flew by so I just went to swat him away but that ticked him off BIG TIME. I was running back and forth along this ridge and he'd follow me and just watch me dead on... Just fly about 1.5 feet from my face and just hover there. Huge black flying thing... Creeped the hell outta me.
Saw some lizards and big lizards too! They scurry from you but I got some good shots.
Tips from me:
GO WITH SOMEONE. I went alone and felt winded and unmotivated at parts. Especially when the going gets tough. It's good to have someone to help.you.
WATER. Have you packed enough? Okay good, but you're wrong. I seriously recommend a minimum of 3 bottles if youre in good shape, and more if you're in average conditioning. I only brought 2 and had to conserve and still ran out by the bottom.
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