The Hike to Browns Peak

This weekend I took another shot at climbing to the top of Brown’s Peak. It is the tallest of the Four Peaks with are located outside of Phoenix. It is also the highest point in Maricopa county with an elevation of 7,657 feet. If you don’t remember, I previously made an attempt at it and ended up taking the wrong trail. You can read my post about my first attempt here.

On this attempt, I made it within 100 feet of the peak but stopped because of the weather. So I am still satisfied with the outcome because I could have easily made the last 100 foot stretch on a clear day.

Anyways, Instead of opening with a explanation of the hike, I thought I would share this video I put together of the hike. I want to start doing more videos so here is the first attempt:

The Hardest Hike So Far

The hike to Humphreys Peak may have been longer and higher in elevation, but it did not compare to Browns Peak. The steep rock chute I had to climb to get to the top was unlike anything I have previously attempted. I read a lot of reviews of this hike on other websites and it made it sound much easier than it really was. So if you are planning on trying this, make sure and watch the video before you set out on your adventure.

It took around two hours to get to the false summit where we ended up stopping and another two hours to make our way back down to the car. I believe it was around 4 miles total which is still a pretty good workout.

The temperature got down into the 40’s even though we were only about 40 miles from Phoenix where it was much warmer. Add in the 50 + mph winds and it gets pretty damn cold.

And Now For the Photos

What would a story on Life of Justin be without a few photos from the adventure? Crap…that’s what. Unfortunately it was really hard to take pictures with the wind and rocks but I managed to snap a couple good ones. So check them out:

Me standing on the rock chute

Look how steep it was

A view looking down

Conclusion

It was an awesome experience and the hike was really cool and challenging at the same time. I managed to get by with a scraped up thumb and a sore ass. My girlfriend on the other hand, ended up with a decent size cut on her wrist and a black and blue knee. But hey, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger (or really sore).

It makes me wonder how I sometimes manage to do things I never would imagine myself doing. But hey, that’s what makes my life interesting (and hopefully this blog). If you want to check out the rest of my pictures, check out the Browns Peak Photo Gallery.

PS. This week should be pretty travel filled since my family is flying in to town tomorrow night.

The Arizona Science Center

2 General Admission Tickets: 18 dollars
2 Planetarium Passes: 16 dollars
Seeing Broken Exhibits and Listening to Kids Scream All Day:  Anything but Priceless….

This past Saturday, I checked out the Arizona Science Center located in downtown Phoenix. It’s a science center/museum that contains a bunch of different exhibits on different things such as weather and technology. The center also features an Imax Theater and the new Dorrance Planetarium.

First Impression = Way Too Many Unsupervised Little Kids

I knew the place was going to be focused around kids, but I did not know there was going to be that many kids running around with lack of supervision. I am not talking about kids  being dropped off and left alone, but rather parents neglecting to pay attention to what their kids are actually doing.

Parents were just minding their own business by the snack bar while their kids ran around screaming, running into other people, and knocking random things over. It was more like a zoo than a science center.

There were some kids behaving and doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing, looking at the exhibits and asking questions. But all the others, were busy hoping in the elevators and throwing candy wrappers on the ground. It just about drove me insane.

Some Very Cool Exhibits…If They Actually Worked

The Science Center had some cool exhibits, including one that showed how UV rays work. Another one showed how to make some sort of a Vortex by pushing down on the platform. The problem was, that at least 5 of the exhibits were either broken or had an “out of order” sign stuck on them.

I think it’s pretty crappy to charge people a boat load to come see this stuff, only to have it not work. They should of told me this in the beginning before I dished out the money for a wristband. There was also a lot of space “under construction” that was blocked off by temporary walls. It seems like the place should be closed until they actually finish everything.

More Up-Selling Than An Infomercial

Another thing that really bothered me about the Arizona Science Center was the up-selling they try to do. I originally went to check out the planetarium, but apparently you have to pay for general admission in order to go to the planetarium. It is 9 dollars for a wristband to get in to the place and another 8 bucks to get a ticket into the planetarium. That’s already 17 dollars just to go see a 40 minutes show on black holes.

Even in the bathroom, above every urinal was a sign that said “Now that you checked out the Science Center, join as a member and get discounted admissions all year long.” It’s like the entire place was just trying to sell me more and more crap. They even sold concessions at the planetarium, including “Astronaut Ice Cream.”

The Chronicles of Narnia

The center also has special exhibits, that are only temporary. At the moment, the special exhibit is Walt Disney’s “Chronicles of Narnia.” I have never seen the movie, so I did not really have much interest in seeing it. However, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to go check it out. Well, actually it would.

The cost of seeing that exhibit is another 9 dollars on top of everything else. It is not included under general admission or the planetarium pass. Who would of guessed?

An Expensive Place For the Kids

Luckily, I do not have any kids so the whole experience wasn’t too expensive. However, if you were to take your kids here, it would be a pretty expensive ticket. Were looking at $21 a kid if you went to the three exhibits I talked about, not including the Imax or food court. Each adult would be another $25 on top of that. So for a family of four, we’re looking at $92 for a visit to the Arizona Science Center. And that is if you can manage to escape the place without buying any food or stuff from the Science Store. Yikes!

I can easily say, I would never go back there unless the special exhibit was something I really, really, really, really wanted to see. It’s just not worth it to pay that kind of money to see a few exhibits and listen to children screaming all day.

Has anyone else checked this place out?

Humphreys Peak Hike

The Trail To the Top of Arizona

This weekend, my girlfriend and I managed to accomplish one of the hardest things we have ever done. We made the 9 mile round trip hike to the top of Humphreys Peak. Humphreys Peak has an elevation of 12,633 feet, which is the highest point in the state of Arizona. The peak is located near Flagstaff, in the Kachina Peaks Wilderness. So check out my journey:

The Journey Begins

The trailhead starts at a parking lot near the ski lodge. The first leg of the hike takes you through a field of high grass, which is usually covered by snow in the winter. From there, you make your way into the woods where the real trail starts.

At first, the trail seems like an easy hike. It is relatively flat and smooth, with hardly any rocks or switchbacks. However, as you continue on your way it starts to get rocky and much steeper.

Camping No Longer Permitted

At 11,500 feet, camping is no longer permitted according to this sign. The elevation really starts to hit you at this point, especially if you are not used to it. My heart rate was racing, but taking short breaks helps to get over it.

At this point, I wanted nothing more than to make it to the saddle to see some change in scenery. It is hard to stay motivated when you have no view of where you are going, so making it to the tree line was something I was really looking forward to.

The Saddle to the Peak

After what seemed like an eternity, I finally made it to the saddle. Arizona has only one tundra, and this is where it can be found. There is little to no life at this elevation, other than some small plants which can survive the conditions.

The downside, is that making it to the saddle is not the end. There is still one last push to make it to the very top of the peak. Elevation sickness really started to kick in here and I was feeling tired and weak. However, I was determined to make it to the top even if it meant dying…

During the last push, you climb over 3 false peaks that disappoint you when you get over them. I kept thinking the peak ahead was the top, only to get there and see a taller one behind it. It starts to piss you off, until you finally get over the last false peak and see the top of Arizona.

Once you see Humphreys Peak, you forget how tired you are and just push your way to the top. Your adrenaline kicks in and gets you to the top. When I first stepped on the peak, I felt a large sense of accomplishment. It feels great to know you just climbed the largest mountain in Arizona. Here is a picture of me sitting at the top of the summit:

Leaving Your Name Behind

At the top of the peak, is a metal box chained to a rock with a notepad in it. People write their names in it to give themselves a feeling they left something behind. Here is the notepad after we both wrote something on it:

Looking Back

My body hurts, it took forever, and it was freezing at the top. But, it was one of the greatest accomplishments I have made so far in my life. I really feel good knowing that I was able to make it to the top on the first try. The only question now, is where to go next…

Check out the Humphreys Peak Photo Gallery for the rest of my pictures!

Next Page »