What an incredible way to end 2015, with a fun hike on the Hidden Valley Trail in South Mountain Park!

The weather was perfect, but for us warm-blooded Phoenicians, it was cold (46°F!), which turned out to be excellent for the hike to come. Five Arizona Trailblazers members and 3 newcomers met on the morning of December 31, 2015, at the Mormon Trailhead, ready for a short hike to ring in 2016. After a quick introduction and a group picture, we were on the trail and ready to warm up and start hiking.

The first mile was the hardest, due to the steep nature of the trail, and provided wonderful scenery as we ascended the glorified hill.

After we reached the junction between the Mormon and the Hidden Valley Trails, we decided on the counterclockwise route to enter Hidden Valley, which supposedly provided better views of the scenery and helped hikers get over (or through) Fatman’s Pass quicker. Fatman’s Pass was the ironically named foot-wide gap between two humongous gray boulders that the trail, for better or for worse, led straight through. The small, cool, shaded gap proved an obstacle for some hikers and rather fat backpacks, but in the end, everyone made it through (though some bumped their head on the rock overhang above as they exited) and we were in the Hidden Valley.

Once the hiking leader had established that everyone had survived, and once everyone donned their packs again, we were officially in the Hidden Valley. What a view! With all those beautiful rock formations, as well as rock “slides” and caves galore, Hidden Valley represented a photographer’s, hiker’s, and kid’s geological paradise of sorts. After some quick exploration treks, we found the perfect location for a quick break and the snacks to go along with it.

After our snack, we continued our hike until, lo and behold, a natural 20-foot long tunnel made of rock loomed before us! What a grand exit out of Hidden Valley! The cool stone walls provided an excellent reprieve from the now warming temperatures, and offered wonderful photo opportunities for expert hikers and beginners alike.

Hiking down was less physical, but required much more concentration, with the loose gravel and plenty of cacti to fall on. That combined with the beautiful scenery made hiking down much harder than hiking up, but it was worth it and everyone made it out safe and without any injury as we returned to the trailhead.

What a beautiful day to finish off 2015 with an awesome, relaxing, and easy hike!

Thank you to Dave, Chuck, and Jim, for coming to support me on my first hike that I am leading, and thank you to our new member, Dan, for joining us as the last new member for the Arizona Trailblazers for 2015! Thank you to Yolanda and Julie for participating in this hike with us, and we look forward to see you again in a future hike!

It was great hiking with you all on New Year’s Eve! And it was also great. Lin, having you as our hike leader. You picked a very interesting trail and did a wonderful job planning and being in charge.