Entry #1. Different Altitude, Different Attitude

Hello down there! It's me, Curtis, here to tell you about my favorite pastime, hiking. I have not always been a hiker. It is a hobby I have taken up in the past six or so years. Most of my life has been spent in southern Louisiana, where it's difficult to even find a hill. I have learned Arizona is a fantastic place to get into this great hobby from the beginner levels to advanced, from the youngest of ages to the oldest.

This is me at the top of Picacho Peak, 

posing in deep thought while looking down at I-10.

I recommend bringing a ballcap, sunglasses, Camelbak filled with water, light snacks, sunscreen, broken in hiking shoes, and a phone that will not have signal most of the hike, but will be able to capture all the sights you will miss once returning home. After these essentials are ready, it's time to go on an adventure! Most of my hikes have primarily been in the general Phoenix area. Others have been as far south as Sierra Vista and north to Sedona.

Today, let's talk about my three favorite hikes based on difficulty level. The first is the Waterfall Trail in the White Tank Mountains over in the West Valley. It is paved and an easy one to bring even your youngest. It does get quite crowded on weekends, so its best to try to find a weekday. There are lots of places to stop and get cute pictures of your kids exploring and climbing rocks. The waterfall at the end will more than likely be underwhelming, because its more of a trickle. Rumor has it that after a hard rain it is much better. You will get reminded of the Native American history here in Arizona when you spot the hieroglyphics on some of the rocks.

Abel, age 2, on the Waterfall Trail

The second trail is Flatiron in the Superstition Mountains over by Apache Junction. This is a hard hike. For a large part, you feel like you're rock scrambling, vs hiking. There's a tricky wall that I could not get up unassisted the first time, but was able to maneuver myself up two subsequent times. This is also a popular hike, so expect to be telling passerby's hello on a regular basis. Scenery is beautiful especially from the top! Be well-prepared when undertaking hikes such as these, you don't want to end up in a spinning basket under a helicopter!

Lastly, is Picacho Peak. This mountain is located right of I-10 in between Phoenix and Tucson. Hands down my favorite so far. There is something so fun about using the cables to climb up precarious rocks. The view at the top is beautiful, but not as great as Flatiron. Mainly because of the highway below. I would say a person with moderate experience can handle this one. It does take a little time, but that's due to cable climbing. Bring gloves and never forget plenty of water!

Picacho Peak climbing!

There are so many great places to explore here in Arizona. I also hope to get to Utah and Colorado to see heights from different states. If I ever have to move away, I hope it's to an area equally fun to explore!