In a few weeks, I should be heading towards Arizona for a little work and pleasure. Of course, I hope to do a little hiking, and one of my favorite spots is the Superstition Mountains just east of the Phoenix area.
There are a number of trails around the base of the mountain in the Superstition Mountains State Park, and on the other side, accessible through a new subdivision is the Peralta Trail. To the north, more trails that can take you back into the wilderness, like the one crossing Black Mesa through what seems like a tunnel passing through cholla cactus like the one above. Cholla is not a plant to be messed with. It is called the jumping cactus, and its barbed spines require pliers for removal. Just ask my wife.
Brent