Where to Catch Tonight’s Perseid Meteor Shower

Grab a blanket, but forget the telescope — without a lens you should be able to see the Perseid meteor shower when it peaks between 2 and 5 a.m., Friday morning.As with any meteor shower, the show is going to be better the further you get from city lights. Evan…

Shaw Butte, Rainy Day Hike

Phoenicians love the smell of wet dirt.Because I’m a Phoenix native and an avid hiker, I recently braved the raindrops for a stellar evening hike.Hiking Partner and I got drenched while hiking up Shaw Butte on a semi-stormy evening last week. During cooler months, we usually hike this entire loop…

Lookout Mountain Lives Up to Its Name

As my hiking partner and I pulled up to the trailhead at Lookout Mountain, I realized I had been there before.Not for hiking. For making out. Back when I was in high school, the trailhead was the site of some very awkward activity. Gross…

Quartz Ridge Trail, Hike With the Heat

“Hike with the heat.” is my mantra during the summer. And Quartz Ridge Trail is the best place to do it.The heat is less shocking if you keep climbing mountains alongside the climbing temperatures. Plus, I’ve found it makes for an easier summer: I complain a lot less if I…

Kiwanis Trail at South Mountain, A Favorite Summer Hike

Now that I’ve fully recovered after the Hell Hike from a couple weeks ago, I’m finally emotionally ready to get back out on the trails.Not to mention, the weather’s cool spell this past weekend got me all fired up.Instead of risking my neck, I grabbed my hiking partner and opted…