Hiking and Backpacking

Scavenger Hunt in the Desert for Grenades and C-4 Ends; Owner of Explosives Still Unknown

Authorities' scavenger hunt for guns, ammo, grenades, and "high explosives" that were poorly hidden in the the desert near State Route 87 has come to an end.Between the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, ATF, and FBI, seven ammo cans were recovered, each containing a cache of explosives or a firearm. ... More >>

Hikers Find Gun, Grenades, and "Possible C-4 Explosives" in Desert, Along With Map to More

Attention: if you hid your guns, ammo, grenades, and "high explosives" in the desert near State Route 87, you're not very good at hiding things.Hikers found the aforementioned items in the past couple of days, and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and a pair of federal agencies are now utilizing ... More >>

Echo Canyon Trail and Trailhead at Camelback Mountain to Close January 28 for Renovations

The ultra-popular Echo Canyon Trail and its trailhead at Phoenix's Camelback Mountain will be closed from January 28 until sometime this fall for renovations. Initial reports about the closure indicated that only the trailhead would be closed as workers built a new entrance to the mountain park, a ... More >>

Camelback Mountain Hiker Dies After Fall During Bee Attack, Two Others Stung 300 Times Each; Off Main Trail on Climbing Route

Three Camelback hikers who decided to take a side route up a climbing trail encountered a swarm of bees on Monday afternoon, and one man died after falling 150 feet. The other two men were stung about 300 times each, says Captain Scott McDonald, Phoenix Fire Department spokesman. A beautiful, fall ... More >>

Camelback Mountain Bees on the Attack: Several Hikers Treated

Those pesky bees at Camelback Mountain attacked several hikers this afternoon, causing at least one person to become injured in a fall, authorities say. "A bunch of hikers were getting attacked," says Captain Scott McDonald, Phoenix Fire Department spokesman, who was still gathering info at the mou ... More >>

Video: Camelback Mountain Hiker Angered After Being Reminded of Leash Law

Pete Kosednar, a Scottsdale window-cleaner and blogger, pulled out his video camera this morning when he saw a hiker walk by on Camelback Mountain with her dog unleashed. Then, he says -- and as the video below appears to show -- he simply reminded the woman that her dog was supposed to be on a lea ... More >>

Ten Favorite Places in Metro Phoenix to Dine After You've Worked Up a Sweat

See also: Phoenix Best Coffee House, North Valley, and Breakfast Sunny Side Up at Scramble in North Phoenix. Arizona is a pretty relaxed place. Still, when you feel hungry after a workout, dog walk or hike, it's easy to dread having to stop at home just to make yourself look "presentable." Here are ... More >>

Marijuana Backpackers in Arizona Getting Reduced Sentences Under New Policy by Federal Prosecutors

People caught near the U.S.-Mexico border with backpacks bulging with marijuana are eligible for reduced sentences under a new policy by the Arizona U.S. Attorney's Office. "Backpackers" with no prior history of drug offenses and no extenuating circumstances, like also packing a firearm, are receiv ... More >>

Superstition Plane Crash: Don't Pick Up Bones Near Crash Site, PCSO Says

​The trails on the Superstition Mountains near the site of last week's plane crash are now open for business, even as wreckage from the crash -- including human bone fragments, apparently -- remains on the mountain.The Pinal County Sheriff's Office says one hiker's already found a bone fragment ne ... More >>

Grand Canyon Torture Hikes; Police Report Describes Boys' Summer of Abuse by Grandpa

​ Three boys whose grandfather forced them on torturous marches across tough Grand Canyon trails told rangers their entire summer had been filled with travel and abuse.The three boys -- 8, 9 and 12 -- told how their grandpa, Christopher Carlson of Indianapolis, injured them repeatedly during t ... More >>

James Reich of Sedona Hiking Adventures Sentenced to Jail and Probation for Illegal Guide Service

Image: www.sedonahikingadventures.comJames Reich, owner of Sedona Hiking Adventures, has been sentenced to two days in jail for running an illegal guide service on national forest lands.​ A Sedona-based hiking guide has been sentenced to two days in jail and is banned from national forests for ... More >>

Chandler Police Looking for Missing Man With Autism

Chandler Police DepartmentSteven DeMarlie was last seen yesterday morning.​The Chandler Police Department is asking the public's help in tracking down a man with autism last seen yesterday morning.Steven Michael DeMarlie, 44, was last seen about 11:30 a.m. yesterday by his family. He told them he ... More >>

Silence is Golden

Especially when you’re trying to enjoy nature

Where It's Fat

Work off that holiday blubber

Rock Starry Night

See The King on the trail

Ten Tips for Avoiding Heat Stroke While Hiking in Phoenix

  Image: Wikimedia Commons Camelback Mountain​Firefighters have rescued 10 people from Camelback Mountain because of heat-related illness since Friday, and even more from other local hiking trails in the last two weeks. Not all 10 on Camelback needed rescuing, (read full details on o ... More >>

Hot Topic

Summer Rules. Seriously.

Hot Links: Death By Palms, Bashas' Art, and Party Crews

​A Mesa man was killed Saturday when 500 pounds of palm fronds fell on him and trapped him. The 28-year-old man was trimming a palm tree when the accident occurred, and by the time rescue crews arrived, he had suffocated. Efforts to revive the man were unsuccessful...Bashas' Inc. is fighting to ke ... More >>

Trail of Fears

Avoid desert disasters with a guided hike

Hot Links: Fiesta Bowl, Mesa Police Chief, and Casinos

​The Fiesta Bowl canceled its plan to ask the state for a $300,000 subsidy after the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority said it would be illegal. The Fiesta Bowl wanted expenses capped for next year's national championship college football game, with some expenses reverting to the sports authori ... More >>

Elephant Mountain Fortress Hike

Searchers "Disappointed" They Missed Finding Hiker's Body Near Trailhead

​ Authorities had searched high and low for 53-year-old Kelley Tate (above), who went missing in the rugged Superstition Mountains last Thursday. But they didn't search low enough. After 150 searchers combed the mountains for days, utilizing dogs, horses, and a helicopter, a phoned-in tip led ... More >>

Charges Dropped for Teen Who Carried Airsoft Rifle in Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve

  Image: www.curtismall.com Example of Airsoft rifle   ​Charges have been dropped against an 18-year-old man who took an Airsoft rifle -- which shoots BBs or pellets -- to Scottsdale's McDowell Sonoran Preserve. The teen, Max Hoemke, was arrested by Scottsdale police on August 1 ... More >>

Hot Links: Cardinals, the Blue Basket Bandit, and Alcor

​In a football preseason opener, the Arizona Cardinals lost 10-20 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, on Steeler turf last night. The Cardinals' only touchdown in the game was fourth-string quarterback Tyler Palko's 20-yard pass to Onrea Jones...A hiker has died in the Grand Canyon after running out of wa ... More >>

Backpacker Magazine's Get Out More Tour

Yuma Man Charged in 2008 Crown King Fire; Former National Park Services Employee Set Signal Fire

Image: WikipediaCrown King Saloon A former National Park Services employee is being charged by the federal government for leaving a fire unattended that grew out of control and spurred the evacuation of Crown King, a small, mountain town northwest of Phoenix. The "Lane 2" fire burned nearly 10,000 ... More >>

National Trails Day "Meet Your Park Ranger" Event

National Trails Day "Meet Your Park Ranger" Event

National Trails Day "Meet Your Park Ranger" Event

National Trails Day "Meet Your Park Ranger" Event

Elephant Mountain Fortress Hike

Elephant Mountain Fortress Hike

Grand Tour

Even he-man hikers can swallow their pride at Spur Cross

Grand Tour

Take a Hike

Seriously. Go outside, already.

Last Minute Monday: Urban Fishing

Racket Club

Jolly noisemakers hike to the beat of a different drum

Mutha Nature

Hardy souls hit the dusty trail at South Mountain

Hometown pride: Finding what's special about the 'Nix

Go Fish

We've got a line on some hot stock

BEST HIKE

Superstition Wilderness

BEST HIKE

Pinnacle Peak Trail

Peak Performance

Trailblazers seek stunning sites

Best Nearly Out-Of-Town Hike

Pinnacle Peak Park

Best City Hike

Squaw Peak Summit Trail

The Sedona 's 5's Excellent Adventure

Five joy riders mountain-biked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon; five federal prisoners rode back up in shackles

REMEMBRANCE OF THINGS PRIMITIVECODY LUNDIN CAN SHOW YOU WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO CATCH A FISH BAREHANDED

STAIRS AND GRIPES ALL THE SQUAW PEAK TRAIL LACKS IS MAHOGANY BANISTERS

CLIFF NOTES RESCUERS ENCOUNTER SOME LAME SUBJECTS

MINE SHAFTED

THE FOLKS IN MORRISTOWN MAY BE GETTING A NOT-SO-GRAND CANYON