Heat of Desire

We’ve been hiking the same secluded stretch of scorched earth for about 15 years now, and we rarely saw another soul. This past spring, our secret spot was suddenly swarming with folks sporting fanny packs and squeaky new hiking boots. Our first instinct was to kill us some tourists, Deliverance-style. Our second was to let the summer heat do the heavy lifting.

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• Outdoor Recreation
• Hiking and Backpacking

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Trekking in the heat of summer is not everybody’s cup of tea – thank God – so only the hardy and the foolhardy get to experience the sere allure of the desert during high summer. One spot that’s beguiling even under extreme conditions is Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve; see for yourself when the folks at the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy lead a four-miler on the Sunrise Trail.