The author had the rare opportunity to go hiking with a couple dozen scientists. A mix of natural and social scientists, the group included botanists, ecologists, geologist, linguists, geographers, archeologists, and experts from many other disciplines. The common thread among them was the geographical focus of their research: the Sonoran Desert. That, and the invitation...
Learn MoreA young German reached the summit of Elaine Castle on October 11, 1982. He was engaged in an epic trek, determined to be the first person to hike the length of Grand Canyon on both sides of the river. Before starting out, Robert Benson had overstayed his visa and taken an American name from a tombstone. With a raven feather stuck in his cap, he descended from the summit...
Learn MoreThere are plenty of reasons to visit Sedona, and those red rocks are right at the top of the list. Formations in hues of red, orange and white jut up from the high-desert floor, creating a mesmerizing setting that changes with the light. Don’t just admire this geological wonderland through a car windshield. Explore it slowly, on foot, and savor the technicolor...
Learn MoreMarch, April and May, are known as bee season in the Valley of the Sun. And rescue personnel from the Phoenix Fire Department say they are responding to an increasing number of calls from hikers being attacked by bees out on the trails. “It’s safe to assume that most of the bees we encounter are Africanized bees. And what that means to us is that when they...
Learn MoreA group of Chicago Cubs fans – and their goat – hope to reverse the “Curse of the Billy Goat” that has hampered the franchise for the past 65-plus years. But at the same time, the group is looking to raise money for cancer research. Five Cubs fans – who have named their group Crack the Curse – are on a 1,900-mile hike, from Hohokam...
Learn MoreMost visitors to the Grand Canyon don’t stay long. They emerge from cars or tour buses to peer out from the rim and pose for photographs. Sometimes, they stay for a picnic or to have lunch at one of the rim lodges. Then they’re gone, the once-in-a-lifetime visit checked off their bucket list. According to Grand Canyon National Park officials, the average visit to this...
Learn MoreCamelback Mountain is about to come with a warning label. Those hoping for a casual climb up the mountain’s Echo Canyon Trail may think twice after spotting a sign that designates it as “difficult,” with long rocky segments and steep drops. The labeling of the trail is part of an effort spearheaded by Phoenix to keep hikers safe and sharply reduce the...
Learn MoreIn a decision that could bring an end to the national Adventure Pass program, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the U.S. Forest Service cannot charge for hiking, walking, picnicking or visiting undeveloped areas of national forest land. In the unanimous ruling released Feb. 9 in favor of four hikers who objected to paying a fee to visit the forest, Judge...
Learn MoreMaricopa County, AZ is home to one of the largest regional park systems in the United States. Ten parks in the system circle the Phoenix metropolitan area, preserving approximately 120,000 acres. For many Maricopa County residents, the cooler temperatures bring about a desire to get outside and reconnect with nature. This year, outdoor enthusiasts have access to 153-miles...
Learn MoreThe Payson Area Trails System program has free, guided hikes planned once a month, now through May. On the agenda are American Gulch South Saturday, Jan. 21; Monument Peak Loop Trail, Saturday, Feb. 18; Cypress Trail and Boulders Loop Trail, Saturday, March 17; Peach Loop Trail, Saturday, April 14; and Boulders Loop Trail, Saturday, May 19. Participants in the January...
Learn MoreBreak out of the gate this month with three excellent hikes. These may not be the best-known trails in Arizona, or even in the region, but they should be on any serious hiker’s bucket list. Each delivers fantastic scenery, a healthy ration of solitude and a good – but not grueling – workout. Unlike summit hikes that become head-bowed, foot-plodding...
Learn MoreThe Arizona Trail is complete after twenty-six years of dedicated effort. The trail is a continuous, 800+ mile, diverse and scenic route across Arizona from Mexico to Utah. It links deserts, mountains, canyons, communities and people and was designated a National Scenic Trail in 2009. The Arizona Trail was officially completed at a ceremony on December 16, 2011. The...
Learn MoreA detailed guide to 17 hiking trails around Lake Havasu City is now posted online. The local Convention and Visitor’s Bureau has worked for the past year to add the new information to its website. “It’s part of our objective to detail everything about the community that might be a draw to bring visitors to town,” said Bureau President and CEO Doug Traub....
Learn MoreThe thrill of summer is long gone. The warm air breaks for a cool breeze and the spirit for adventure breaks with it. Hiking boots get thrown to the back of the closet and camping gear gets a special corner in the back of the garage. It’s time to hide indoors for another winter. It’s no surprise people don’t hike as much in the off-season. Winter totally...
Learn MoreWhen many people think of hiking, they conjure up ideas of heavily backpacked men and women with a walking stick in one hand and Sherpas by their side. They see hikers as these supernatural athletes who can (and do) walk for days while barely breaking a sweat. But that is far from the truth. Hiking today is as simple as finding an “off road” trail and...
Learn MoreLisa Hendy was driving through Wyoming in a blizzard when she received the news that she had just been awarded the National Park Service’s (NPS) 2011 Harry Yount National Park Ranger Award for excellence, in effect dubbing her as the best ranger in the nation. “I had to pull over when my supervisor told me,” she told OldWestNewWest.com Travel &...
Learn MoreThe Maricopa County Parks and Recreation Department is celebrating Arizona’s 100th birthday with a 100-mile hike challenge for Valley residents. Starting this month, Valley residents can log the miles they hike at at least three of the county’s 10 parks. People also can participate in programs at county parks or hike a portion of the Maricopa Trail. “One of our...
Learn MoreThe 24-hour BioBlitz in Arizona’s Saguaro National Park added more than 400 species to park lists, including 190 species of invertebrates and 205 species of fungi previously unknown to the park, the National Geographic Society said in a news announcement. At least one species of bryophyte is new to the park and potentially new to science, Geographic added in a...
Learn MoreVast areas of desert preserve make it irresistible to residents, tourists. Phoenix’s vast network of desert preserves and hiking trails earned the city recognition from National Geographic among the nation’s 15 best hiking cities. Accessible urban trails are a valuable part of what Phoenix has to offer. North Mountain, on Seventh Street south of Thunderbird...
Learn MoreGrand things happen in the Grand Canyon State. Not only does Arizona hold claim on that huge scenic hole in the ground, it also is home to a lengthy, and unique, hike across the state — from the border with Mexico to the border with Utah — a trek of some 817 miles. Back before there were state borders and official trails, Native Americans created trails all...
Learn MoreAlthough mop-up of the 538,049-acre Wallow Fire continues in Arizona, the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests announced that the popular Mt. Baldy trails — including West Baldy, East Baldy and Baldy Crossover — have reopened for hiker use. As with all wilderness trails, no mountain bikes or motorized vehicles are allowed. However, trail users should be aware...
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I am Jeff Clark, founder of Internet Brothers, publisher of Meanderthals, and a passionate hiker. I live in western NC near the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains. Pisgah and Nantahala National Forests are just out my doorstep, so the content will focus on these areas, but let me know what you would like to see on the site. 
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