Today we hike in the southwest area of South Mountain Preserve which has been referred to as the world’s largest municipal park. Close to 17,000 acres and founded in 1924, it was first named Phoenix Mountain Park. The trails are at the base of the Gila Range within the Preserve.

We begin our hike at the Pyramid Trailhead at the end of Chandler Blvd. It is a nippy 36 degrees outside but we warm up, setting a good pace eastward.

Taking a connector trail we continue along a wash up to the mine shafts which are filled in. Ore was mined

On the trail near the old mines are several healthy Bursera Trees, also known as Elephant Tree. This species grow in the Sonoran Deserts of Arizona, California and Mexico. Birds such as the Gray Vireo and Ash-throated Flycatcher feed on the red berries. The sap from the tree has medicinal purposes. Its thick trunk stores water. We found that the shaggy, peeling bark smells like camphor. Today we encounter an Ash-throated Flycatcher guarding the berries of the Bursera Tree.

Phoenix South Mountain Preserve Rangers refer to this as the Lost Ranch. It was approximately 2,000 square foot structure in its time, possibly a speak-easy for the miners. It was accessible by horse or horse and buggy. It pre-dates 1920. See Report.

When the sun comes out for a brief time, the beauty of the trail appears in the colors of the grasses, Brittlebush and brown and tan veneer of the desert varnish on the rocks.

We now turn east, returning on the Bursera Trail which is a 2.4 mile ridge trail descending back to the desert floor. At its highest point, the elevation is 1,956 elevation. It is 40 degrees and about 11 AM. The temperature on our hike rarely exceeded 46 degrees.

Throughout the day we could see the Estrella Mountains dusted with snow.