MapMyHike.com | View Camelback-Backside (chickened Out!) in Paradise Valley, ArizonaPosted using
ShareThisSo this was my hike today. I was all excited because I have never climbed up Camelback from this side before. For those of you familiar with the mountain, this was the NON Echo Canyon side, or the South/East side.
For those who don't know, Camelback is a famous landmark in Phoenix, as it is a mountain that simply looks like a camel lying on its stomach (great view from the airport!) The Echo canyon trail is difficult....many steps to start with, then some climbs with more than a 45 degree incline that require the use of a handrail cemented into the rock. Then towards the top, you are basically bouldering or scrambling (using hands and feet to climb up and over large boulders-there is no defined trail) for the last 1/2 mile or so. The Echo Canyon trail is about 1.2 miles to the top, with an over 940ft elevation change....not for the faint at heart or waterless!
So I thought I would try the other side, had heard it was a little easier, but longer. After finding parking (any parking for Camelback is attrocious), I began the hike, and thought it WAS much easier...mostly vertical with a few small flat areas, but towards the middle of the hike, it jogs to the north and runs right along the ledge most of the way...so on my left is mountain, on my right is...nothing. No big deal unless you are trying to pass or someone is coming the other way. No big deal, was manageable.
Then I get to what I imagine was the last 3 tenths or so of the hike (this one is a bit longer...more like 1.5+ miles to the top) and it too required some bouldering. No biggie, I think. I pause to catch my breath, snapped the above picture of the McDowells in the distance, and watch some hawks fly right above my head. Gorgeous. I start the bouldering part, and it starts to get hairy really fast. The trail is marked by spray paint because you are literally bouldering up the crest of mountain. Nothing on either side. Some parts were manageable (mom, stop reading here!) and others made me question my sanity since A)I am in the market for new shoes and B)I get vertigo easily these days and C)I am health insurance-less right now. But I pushed on. There were people coming down, so it couldn't be that bad, right? Some of the men coming down were older than my parents, so it must get easier as you go. HA! I finally go to a spot where in order to get up the rock, I had to pull myself up with just my hands and arms, there was no place to put my feet...how the heck was I going to get back down?! At this point, I sat down and reevaluated the situation. I decided that yes, I need to do this hike to train for Half Dome (see previous posts) because of the "scariness" of it, but that I didn't need to do it completely unprepared. So, despite the nagging disappointment in myself for not making it to the top, I went back down. Meanwhile, the 60-70 year old men kept passing me on their way up.
I WILL tackle this again and WILL summit Camelback from this trail. I know I was near the top, I could see the people standing up there...I just simply chickened out. And knowing I was that close still irks me....that ONE spot was probably the only tricky spot in the whole hike...and it got me. Next time I go, I will evaluate the trail a little bit better, and see if there isn't a better way to get up this one area...and I will go a bit slower once to this point...I tend to think its a race in my mind and scurry to get to the top! I'm sure there is and easier way..hundreds of people make it to the top every day!
So Camelback kicked my ass and spanked me today, but not for long! Once I get new shoes and braven up a bit, I will kick ITS ass!
