Hiking in Tonto National Forest

It was chilly and windy this morning (Thursday), so we wimped out on water aerobics, but Carl suggested that we go for a hike instead. He did not find exactly the trail that he was wanting to take, but we enjoyed what we found instead!

We stopped at Bulldog Canyon...

There was part of the Maricopa Trail accessible from here...

... part of a large trail system in this area.

But we decided to ask another couple of hikers who had just come back into the parking area for their recommendation, and they recommended a trail up EJ Peak (I've also found it listed as Lone Mountain, I think)...

"We're going up there?"

"Are you sure?!?!?" (It doesn't look all that high, does it?)

There were some beautiful ocotillos along the way, all leafed out.

Initially the path was pretty broad -- in fact, it started as OHV road, then down to a hiking and horseback riding trail (this part), and then it narrowed to a very narrow hiking trail.

The views were beautiful.

Another leafed-out ocotillo -- there were many along this trail.

The sky was so blue!

Does that look pretty vertical to you? It did to us too!

The Jeep is down there where the wash from the mountain on the other side comes to the road.

A view toward the west -- I think that mountain in the middle is known as Red Mountain.

It was a gorgeous day!

At the top

Taking pictures toward the east

East of the peak

Carl at the peak

I think this is looking south

Looking west

A marked up version of the previous picture -- the Jeep is where the arrow is pointing!

Beautiful views in all directions

I'm not sure what Carl was laughing about, but... we almost always have fun!

It may look barren, but there is a lot of vegetation around... not like the forests of other parts of the country, but, beautiful nonetheless.

This bench was at the top, with "EJ Peak 2787" on it... we think the elevation.

A few more pictures before heading down... northeast

Looking to the east.

I think this was almost a 180 degree panoramic picture

Red Mountain...

... and Red Mountain zoomed in.

I think this is toward Fountain Hills.

Though it did not take as much energy as the climb up, the trek down was actually more challenging -- the path had a lot of loose gravel and we had to be very careful not to slip.

Carl was wearing his new hiking boots. I had decided to go in my walking shoes as I didn't want my feet to get "broken in" by the boots! I think I would have had better traction with the boots, but my feet are happy that I didn't wear them... especially since we made it down safely anyway.

We stopped for Gyro Salads on our way home - yum!

A little too cool and windy to enjoy pool exercises, but about perfect for hiking!