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| - I've lived in the PHX area for 8 months now and finally got around to hiking Camelback. I'm not a hiker, I've only hiked Pinnacle Peak 2x. The Yelp reviews make this hike seem much more daunting and difficult than it actually is. The Echo Canyon trail is mostly scrambling and navigating over rocks. It's like a "pick your own adventure" type of thing. I enjoyed this hike much more than Pinnacle. It's a challenge, but doable. The terrain is just tricky is all.
I went at the end of December. The temp ranged from 43-65. I wore yoga leggings, hiking shoes, t-shirt, sweatshirt and a hat. I brought 4 bottles of water, but didn't even finish one. I did bring an apple to snack on at the top. I wish I had brought Kleenex--you tend to get to sniffling with the cooler weather and physical exertion. BRING A BACKPACK -- you WILL need your hands for this climb.
We arrived around 11, and waited about 20 minutes for parking. I needed my sweatshirt until after the trail, railroad ties, and the rail sections, where I ended up scrambling like Gollum rather than using the rail. But you do what works for you. I felt safer that way. After the rails, you navigate your way through rocks and boulders to the top. It's not hard, but everyone is winded. But you can stop and regain your breath and continue on. The view at the top is great. I think the most dangerous part is headed down. I chose to use the sides of the trail rather than the main part because I wanted to avoid slick gravel. I chose to go down the rail parts backwards--felt like I had more control. Know your limits, take your time you'll have a great time.
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