rev:text
| - Wow! This was my very first hike, and a quite intense first hike at that! My boyfriend and I are are visiting his Mother in Phoenix and she recommended that we all go. What an intoxicating experience!
Before I get into the hike, though, I must make a few important recommendations:
- Bring LOTS OF WATER!
I cannot emphasize this enough. My boyfriend and I had two bottles each and made it up to the top and down with JUST enough. I'd suggest bringing 3 bottles per person.
- Get dropped off or take an uber/cab
The parking lot at the base of the mountain is INSANELY packed. Thankfully we were with some locals who gave us this vital pointer
- Wear comfortable shoes WITH grip
There was a couple times myself and my company slipped on the rocks as some are smooth or covered with a light dusting of red soil
But let's get back to the hike...
We decided to trek up Echo Trail as that is what our company suggested. Definitely not for newbies, ha! 1.14 miles in length with an elevation gain of 1,264 feet, Echo Trail tests not only your endurance and athletic ability, but also your mental game!
As I said at the beginning, this was my first hike, but I was DETERMINED to get to the top. It was tough! The challenging terrain, steep incline, gaps between some rocks and the gruelling heat make this Trail what it's known for: "extremely difficult". But if you can make it to the top, it is SO rewarding and totally worth the exhaustion!
My advice, get there early to avoid the midday temperatures. And just a heads up, there are gnats at the very top which are a little pesty. I'm hoping that next time they won't be because I'll definitely be back!
A well deserved 5 star here!
|