One of the options being considered by the City of Phoenix to ease traffic jams in the parking lot near Camelback Mountain’s Echo Canyon trailhead is to eliminate parking there entirely. If that happened, a new parking lot with 232 spaces could be created where 44th Street curves east to…
Hairspray, meet the supersoldier ant.This week, scientists at McGill University in Canada announced that they’ve successfully re-created an ant genus that evolved (and became more likely to be killed by household products and squashed by a small shoe) 35 to 60 million years ago. …
The Quadrantids meteor shower will be shinning bright (for anyone willing to roll out of bed) with a maximum rate of about 100 meteor per hour, according to NASA. While most of last year’s showers were hard to see because of full moons, Tuesday night/Wednesday morning’s shower will have little to…
Yes, friends, this week scientists announced the discovery of the newest, scariest addition to the already dream-haunting 4,000 species of the sewer bug — and this one jumps. The leaproach, scientific name saltoblattella montistabularis, is noted as an “evolution” of the cockroach with “extreme” bulging eyes to pinpoint landing spots, more aerodynamic antenna sockets…
If you can drag yourself out of bed tomorrow morning, you’ll want to look up to get a glimpse of a total lunar eclipse — the last one until 2014. The moon passes through the southern part of the Earth’s shadow, which gives the “eclipse” effect, (fortunately not of the vampire…
Strap in and buckle up: NASA representatives announced this afternoon that the space agency is looking for its next class of astronauts to continue its space program. “For 50 years, American astronauts have led the exploration of our solar system,” NASA administrator Charles Bolden said in webcasted national press conference. “Today…
Few things are as humbling to an athletic adult as failing to reach the top of a tough wall at the rock-climbing gym — then watching a 12-year-old do it without breaking a sweat.And for the 12-year-old, that’s just cool.This happens all the time at one of our favorite haunts,…
The man who hiked Camelback Mountain fully naked last Saturday wasn’t on drugs, but his jaunt was preceded by four sleepless nights and mental problems, says his friend.Nicholas Pirsein, 19, was at the scene on Saturday and appears in a YouTube video made by the woman who urged other hikers…
Why go to the gym when there’s a stationery bike at the bar? Ever try burning calories while drinking? This Thursday, you’ll have the chance to test out your boozing/biking skills as AZfixed.com hosts a fundraiser for the ASU Cycling club at Tempe Tavern. While the event’s hosted by cycling…
Saturday morning began like any other on Camelback; then normal stopped. Just past the longest handrail section on Camelback Mountain’s Echo Trail, I saw a full-grown, stark naked man (no shoes, either) having a conversation with himself on his way to the summit. “I’m sorry, Daddy,” he said (switching voices from child to…
Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong came, saw, and conquered the Four Peaks Brewery Urban Dirt Triathlon in Tempe on Sunday. He blew the competition out of the Town Lake water by more than four minutes.Armstrong announced his participation in the race on his Twitter feed a few days ago, but other…
If you believe in myths and superstitions, this Friday, September 23, might be a good day to try and balance an egg on its end, avoid drinking water, or celebrate Persephone’s return to the Underworld. All those myths are associated with the September Equinox, which takes place at 9:04 a.m…
After a two-day hiatus and a big scare to the local climbing community, Climbmax owner Mike Fitzgerald announced last night that the Tempe indoor climbing gym will be open again, as of this afternoon. “Our short closure has given way to negotiations to renew our lease,” Fitzgerald wrote on the Climbmax’s…
Mike Fitzgerald announced Wednesday that he was closing the doors of Climbmax, effective immediately. Word spread quickly through the climbing community, and an open letter was posted by Fitzgerald on the Climbmax website:”Due to reasons beyond our control, we have been forced to immediately close this facility,” Fitzgerald writes. “Closing the gym…
We’re not the only ones still trying to comprehend how a 31-year-old man from Missouri died after hiking for a mere four hours on Sunday morning with a friend at South Mountain Park.”It’s very unusual,” says Phoenix Fire Department spokesman Jorge Enriquez. “Maybe they underestimated the hike, coming from another…
This week’s hiking lesson: The $6 entrance fee to see the Wind Cave Trail at Usery Mountain Recreation Area is totally worth it. The 1.6-mile trail is fairly easy; it’s the most popular hike in the area. There are few rough spots where you have to navigate over some big…
The hunt is on.Last week, four Arizona State Parks posters of Kartchner Caverns, Alamo Lake, Lost Dutchman, and Slide Rock were placed at various Light Rail stations from Phoenix to Tempe. If you find all four and submit your own digital photos of the the posters at the stations (example…
The first Arizona Warrior Dash concluded on Sunday with live music, beer in plastic cups, and muddy, muddy masses. Here are a few things we learned from the 3.4-mile run. Noted for next year: 1. The obstacles are no joke. Some of the obstacles were pretty easy, but some were pretty…
On Friday night, ASU will host its last Astronomy Open House of the year with views of Saturn through rooftop telescopes. You know that means — cool, free date night. The telescopes will be set up from 8 to 10 p.m.on the Bateman Physical Sciences H-Wing on the Tempe Campus…
Phoenix’s South Mountain is known for its extensive trail system; even if you start at the same place every time you go hiking, you can end up taking five different trails to the top. The mountain’s Desert Foothills Trailhead provides an easy start — a wide, paved, flat surface. But…
The Lost Camp Loop is a hell of a hike. It’s longish (at 5 miles), climbs and descends steeply, has multiple opportunities to get lost, and is home to bees … lots of bees.The trail takes you close, but doesn’t actually lead to the ruins of Lost Camp, a mysterious…
Thrasher Magazine, a monthly eye-candy publication for professional and amateur skateboarders, published a photo essay this morning that features some of the best spots in Phoenix. The series, titled Shred Lobster, doesn’t include addresses or buildings, but local board nuts should be able to recognize a few of the rails,…
