Warming up on Piestewa Peak

It is warming up in the Valley of the Sun.  I started up Piestewa’s Summit Trail around noon and the temps were in the mid 80’s.  No cloud cover today, and the sun was on the trail the whole way up.   I was thankful for a cool breeze and a couple of trees to take tiny breaks on the way up.  I used the excuse to take some great scenic pictures of blooming cactus and pretty wildflowers when I needed a break.  Stair climbs aren’t my favorite, but the scenery makes up for the stairs.  The trail wasn’t as crowded as Camelback was a week ago, but I did run into a couple families from the east coast on the way up, taking advantage of the few trees and shade for some breaks also.  I love the jagged rock formations and the terrific views of the valley.  It was a challenging hike, but I love a challenge.