Читать книгу Backpacking Arizona. From Deep Canyons to Sky Islands онлайн

18 страница из 56

Optional Side Hikes, Shortcuts, and Alternate Routes

These are mentioned by name in the main description of each hike. An optional side hike offers you the chance to explore a feature, trail, or route off the main hike. These are usually done as out-and-back dayhikes. A shortcut is an optional route that shortens the length of the overall trip. An alternate route is an optional trail or route that is the same length or longer than the main trip.

Conquistador Aisle from The Esplanade, Grand Canyon National Park

General Tips on Backpacking in Arizona

WATER AND HEAT

Arizona is a desert state. The low deserts of the south and west sections of the state are dangerously hot in the summer. In this region, daily temperatures top 100˚F from May through mid September, and readings of 110 or higher are common. The extreme heat creates extreme aridity, and the combination is frequently deadly to unprepared desert travelers. Even in the mountainous north-central and eastern sections of Arizona, where temperatures are moderated by elevations from 7000 to over 12,000 feet, the thin air remains dry much of the year.