Photo Journey Through Arizona Ep.7: Camelback Mountain (Phoenix, AZ)
One of the most recognizable mountains in Phoenix is Camelback mountain, known for its signature shape which resembles a camel's hump. Located right on the border of Scottsdale and Phoenix it offers a fantastic view of the entire Valley Of The Sun.
There is a small parking lot at the base of the trailhead. There are multi-million dollar houses in the surrounding neighborhoods.
I brought my crew of hiking buddies :)
Make sure you stretch!
Forbidden Swiss cheese!
As soon as you get past the first little hill you get a perfect view of downtown Phoenix through a clearing in the mountains.
This is the most difficult hike I have done in recent memory. Definitely not for beginners or anybody who has injuries or fatigue.
Always make sure to bring water and other supplies just in case of an emergency. I pack around a half a gallon of water, some snacks, sunglasses, sunscreen and a lighter just to be safe.
These mountains would be perfect for rock climbing too.
The iconic Saguaro cacti grow all along the mountainside.
As do other species of cactus, just like this Fire Barrel cactus (Ferocactus gracilis).
You do not want to accidentally run into one of these- the spines are hooked at the end and resemble porcupine needles. They are extremely hard and could be used for various weapons or tools if needed.
Just about every square mile is developed in this valley. Cities all blend together into a giant urban sprawl.
About halfway up the mountain things start to really get tough. The heat and light are taking their toll on the group- two friends have to stop here just to be safe.
I was completely drenched in sweat at this point and breathing heavily. The rise in elevation combined with the temperature were testing my endurance and fitness levels. I pushed on through the exhaustion, determined to reach the summit.
This hike is one of the most popular ones for locals... first timers are never prepared for the difficulty however.
There is so much beauty right in the middle of our city, you just have to know where to look.
After an hour and a half I finally make it to the peak, along with two of my fittest friends. It felt great to finally reach the top where the wind cooled temperatures down a bit and the views really take your breath away.
The view to the West, you can see the entire city of Phoenix in the middle of the dozens of other surrounding cities.
You can see the grid layout of the streets in this shot. In the distance the city blends into the agricultural farm land on the outskirts.
Cute little bird, hopping around eating insects from the rocks at the summit.
What do you see when you look at this rock?
On the way back down someone asked me to take their picture at this small cave right off the trail. I agreed although it was a bit sketchy, I figured it would result in a really great shot.
Inside the actual cave there was maybe 400-500 square feet of space and an amazing view of Scottsdale.
The north side of the mountain has some lichen growth which I thought was pretty interesting.
Thanks again for checking out my latest post in my Photo Journey Through Arizona series. Please check out some of my other posts and let me know what you think :) Have a fantastic day!
Episode 1, Part 1- Montezuma Castle
Episode 1, Part 2- Montezuma Castle
Episode 3- Sedona (Devils Bridge)
Episode 4- Tuzigoot Native American Ruins
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beautiful :)