Squaw (Piestewa) Peak: An urban oasis?

A few years ago, I used to hike at Phoenix Mountain Park 2-3 times a month. That was before I found some lesser traveled, closer trails to my home that offered more ample parking options.

But to me, Squaw is one of the first places that I encountered the feeling of accomplishment by meeting a challenge head-on and not giving up. I saw a huge lizard (chuckwalla I think), I braved wind storms and desert rains, I took on the world as a young strong single woman. So it's with fondness, appreciation, and a certain expectation that I went back to Squaw on a Monday morning in December.

I was greeted with a parking space directly in front of the summit trail, which is a rare occurrence. I plugged myself in to my heart rate monitor to hear my body's signals more clearly and I started up the trail that I had not conquered in at least a year.

The first moment I knew things had changed was when I looked up and noticed the view of downtown Phoenix was marred by a tan wispy blanket of smog, noticeably thicker than my prior visits.

Then I started to also notice that extra paths had been worn in on the trail, where hikers take shortcuts around bends or to avoid traffic jams. The trail's edges seemed to be artificially wider than normal, showing heavy wear from its users.

Farther up, as the trail became steeper, my heart rate topped at 184 but my heart and head sunk when I glanced up from huffing and puffing to see the mark's of blatant human disrespect.  Graffiti.  With a sunken spirit I snapped the photo and continued on my way, probably 1/4 of the trail left to summit.

At the summit I was sad to see more graffiti, more bold statements of human conquer.

And, graffiti of an ornamental kind.  I'm sure the intent was to be humorous and filled with good cheer; but this type of ornament, although making a pretty picture, is harmful to the animals and birds who should own this summit more than we do. The bow may very well break the bough and choke the sparrow.

I believe that we need more people to know our land and experience wildlife and nature. We need more people, most importantly our young people to connect with these things if we have any hope of proving its value and protecting its future. 

But I wish more people would learn, teach, and embrace the principles of Leave No Trace.

1. Plan ahead and prepare
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces
3. Dispose of waste properly
4. Leave what you find
5. Minimize campfire impacts
6. Respect wildlife
7. Be considerate of other visitors