PJ and I do not get tired of hiking the Elephant Mountain Trail up at Spur Cross (north of Cave Creek). (As also in
2009,
2010,
2012.) The trail route that we prefer measures out at 6.6 miles, guesstimating 1500+ foot elevation change. Enough to be interesting, not so much to be exhausting.
We much like the trail under any conditions. With 2013 turning out to be a great year for desert wildflowers, we can report that it looked significantly better than normal. Tremendous conditions on Saturday (March 23) - sunny, high of 75, flowers most everywhere (especially poppies, lupine, globe mallow, brittle bush). We finished up right at sundown, which allows us to do the last half of the hike in the best light of the day.
We typically try to find a local restaurant after these hikes - in this case something called Amaro's, which we enjoyed more than expected - food and drink good, even the live music was very nice.
Another fine day.
Click photos to enlarge . . .
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| Globe mallow (orange) and saguaro. |
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| Brittle bush |
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| PJ, brittle bush, Elephant Mountain in the distance. |
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| Mexican gold poppies, lupine, teddy bear cholla. |
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| Nearing the Elephant Mountain pass; Indian ruins atop the bluff just to right; beautiful late afternoon moonrise. |
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| Globe mallow. Looking especially good in very late afternoon light. |
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| Hard to capture the effect of the poppies and lupine decorating the trail. Late-day lighting = very nice. |
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| Nearing home stretch. |
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| Last daylight . . . |
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| Crossing Cave Creek. Just a few minutes to trailhead. |
