Eight club members meet at the Pyramid trailhead in the southwest corner of the Phoenix South Mountain Park. The day before was heavy rain, but this morning the ground was dry and partially sunny. We started off on the Pyramid trail, hiking east over open desert and a few washes before beginning a steep ascent up to the top of the Gila Range.

We’re not the only ones on the trail this Sunday, but it isn’t crowded. There are plenty of switchbacks as we ascend 850 feet in one mile, but we have nice views of Ahwatukee, the farmlands to the south and the Estrella Mountains to the west.

We paused at the top of the ridge to catch our breath and take some pictures.

Continuing on the Gila range, we hiked east in the direction of Telegraph Pass.

Above the pass, we turned north onto the National trail, pausing for a picture with downtown Phoenix in the background.

We are now on the north side of the Gila Range, overlooking Phoenix as we proceed west on the National Trail for five miles.

The trail passes below Goat Hill, the high point of the Gila Range, and along the way we pass several groups of mine shafts.

This part of the trail doesn’t offer a lot of good sitting rocks, but we find enough for a break, before continuing west.

At the far end Gila Range, the National trail meets the Bursera Trail. The National descends, continuing west towards San Juan road. However, we take Bursera climbing a short distance, before heading south and descending to the Gila wash. We’re now less than 2 miles from the trailhead, but first we have a 600 foot climb over the next 1.2 miles to reach the trail summit.

After the summit, everyone is happy that it is downhill (mostly) and less than a mile back to the trailhead. We go our separate ways, after enjoying a rugged hike close to home.

Statistics: 10.4 miles in 5.5 hours, with an accumulated elevation gain of 2400 feet.