Mike in the Wild

At the southern intersection of the cities of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, sits the Valley's most distinctive landmark - Camelback Mountain.   From either the south or the north, it clearly resembles a kneeling dromedary, with it's head facing west and it's larger of two humps reaching 2,700 feet in elevation.  The highest point in the city of Phoenix, it offers panoramic views of the urban sprawl and surrounding mountains. Fortunately for area hikers and nature lovers, Phoenix maintains a popular trail and trailhead in the park.  A recently expanded parking area at Echo Canyon is the ideal gateway to exploring not just the peaks but the unique desert landscape in the heart of the metropolitan area.   Many people consider the Echo Canyon Trail to the summit or the alternate Cholla Trail from the east as the most difficult hikes in the city's many mountain parks.  It's a steep ascent that's graded in only a few places.  As a result, you've got ...