As the country’s largest urban park, the 16,000-acre South Mountain Park and Preserve has many trails for a hiker to explore its variable and unique terrain. We enjoy taking an easy-going day hike on the north edge of the park that provides an exciting and scenic climb through the granite…
At 12,637 feet, Humphrey’s Peak is Arizona’s tallest mountain and is located within driving distance of Phoenix, just 11 miles north of Flagstaff. One of the extinct volcanoes in the San Francisco Range, Humphrey’s offers a unique hike to its summit for those of us looking for a weekend getaway…
With the ultra popular Echo Canyon shut down for the majority of the year, hikers have flooded to the gates of the Piestewa Peak summit trail. Though there is a debate over the comparable difficulty of the two trails, avid Echoers run up and down Piestewa alongside the tourists and…
As the heat wave rolls on and we start to question our commitment to 120-degree weather, let’s take a moment to remember the amazing things about Phoenix and the state of Arizona as a whole. We may not be Boulder, Portland, or Seattle, but we have incredible outdoor activities at…
Arizona’s monsoon season has arrived. Last night a dusty storm blew through the state, bringing (a little) relief from the high heat and a great excuse to snap a photo or two. Arizonans took to social media to share what they saw. Including the awe-inducing shot above, here are five…
You may interpret “water hiking” as toting a portable mister along the trail up Camelback, but dear reader, there are places with real water, too. Wet hiking is a perfect way to explore Arizona while keeping cool. Canyons, creeks, and springs fill our desert landscape if you know where to…
As the summer overtakes the Valley, the heat comes and we retreat indoors. But for those still eager to get outside, walk some trails, and climb some mountains, summer can be beautiful — if you’re prepared. Here are eight basic tips for hitting the trails in these triple-digit days. Despite…
Phoenix skateboarding clothing company, Pyramid Country celebrated the 4/20 with the release of its latest eye candy video featuring skateboarding tricks, 3D art, and a whole lot of weirdness, that’s now online. Pyramid Country includes skateboarders Aric Blattner, Pat Green, Cameron Harper, Ryan Sublette, Marshall Winter, Evan Okeson, Justin Modica,…
For those who really want to get away, Orbital Technologies has great news. The Private Russian company and lead contractor for the Federal Space Agency of the Russian Federation have teamed up to create a commercial space station for research and tourism purposes slated to be built, shot into space,…
It’s been a rough day for arachnophobes — news traveled from Sri Lanka this morning that scientists have identified a spider the size of a human face. Introducing the Poecilotheria rajaei. See also: – Scientists Discover Genitalia-Headed Fish – Scientists Discover Jumping Cockroach – We’re Doomed: Scientists Discover Spiders with…
If you’ve looked at a calendar lately, you know that Phoenix’s small window of good weather is about to close. Time to break out the yoga mat and get your “om” on at these (almost) free outdoor yoga and pilates classes. Poolside Yoga at the Montelucia Get resort-style relaxation without…
Earth had its fair share of outerspace scares last week when fragments of a meteorite hit Russia in the Ural Mountains and an asteroid flew 17,200 miles from Earth’s surface (a closer pass than orbiting communication satellites). This morning, NASA released a 72-frame video of the asteroid dubbed DA14, which…
Because mother nature wants to make sure we’re still paying attention and stocking our post-mayan apocalypse bunkers, news arrived from Chelyabinsk, Russia this morning that a meteor had been spotted zooming toward Earth in central Ural Mountains — a scene described as a nuclear blast out of a movie. Almost…
When motocross superstar Robbie Maddison released his latest collection of signature gear and a stunt/action video this week, we watched the death-defying tricks and massive, air-catching jumps with glossy eyes. And then we realized Maddison picked a very familiar backdrop. Off of Interstate 10 in southern Tucson is an aircraft…
From music to cars, clothing to sporting events, the world is be compartmentalized and reduced into specific niches–and finding the right niche is crucial in making most any event or concept work well. That said, CitySolve Urban Race planners are calling for all sneaker-wearing pop culture guru public transportation-riding adventure…
The new Echo Canyon Trail alignment at Camelback Mountain will add another quarter mile to the popular Phoenix summit climb, easing an erosion-causing steep grade near the start. The renovation is just part of a $3 million project by the city of Phoenix that will be closing the trail and…
A short film by a Flagstaff photographer argues against the possible destruction of the Devil’s Canyon wilderness while highlighting the area’s rich scenery and wildlife. The wilderness area, including the popular Oak Flat Campground just east of Superior, is the target of a long-planned mining proposal to tap an estimated…
This week, NASA released the first images of the dig site where the Curiosity Rover, which landed on Mars in August of 2012, will collect the first drill sample on Mars. Curiosity sent the image of the site taken at the lowest point of Gale Crater that scientists are describing…
If you’re awake late tonight/early tomorrow morning, look up. The Quadrantids meteor shower peaked this morning and will continue to shine bright (for anyone willing to roll out of bed) tomorrow morning. See also: – Best Places to Satisfy Your Inner Space Nerd: Best of Phoenix 2012 – NASA May…
It’s been 40 years since man has stepped foot on the Moon, and if all goes as planned, space exploration experts anticipate NASA will be announcing more manned missions to outer space very soon. According to Space.com, NASA has been planning to set up a manned outpost beyond the Moon’s…
New, temporary signs have gone up at Camelback Mountain to warn people about the danger of bees following the death on Monday of a 19-year-old hiker. Signs on sandwich boards were placed at the trail head of Echo Canyon trail, and also along the trail on the north end of…
In an age when politicians are proposing legislation to deny women access to birth control, scientists at South Carolina’s Clemson University are giving it away for free — to squirrels. According to National Geographic, a warmer winter and a boom in nuts (of the food variety) has led to a…
