L V Yates ( Two Peaks) Trail

Total hiking distance covered (per the GPS)  2.79 miles round trip

Total time on trail 1 hour 48 minutes

Maximum elevation  2,387 ft.

Starting elevation 1,358 ft.

At 8:00 AM on Monday, January 5, 2009 I started my annual new years hike.  This year I decided to hike a new Trail, the L. V. Yates trail  in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve.  The weather was cloudy and cool when I started and the horizon was obscured to the north by fog caused by the rains that had just occurred.  This trail had haunted me for years because I could always see it as I headed south on 40th street toward Shea Blvd.  It always appeared as if the pavement of 40th street ended and the road continued as dirt.  I knew that this was not the case and although the dirt section may have once been a road, it now existed only as a trail.

Click on photographs to enlarge

40th St. Continuation (Trail)	Parking Area (With facilities)
L. V. Yates Trail Head	Trail Plackard

Trail up	Trail 100 Junction

 At the trail head there are both water and restroom facilities.   As I started out my hike from the parking area at the end of 40th street the trail is wide and well maintained so going was easy.  Shortly after starting I came across the bronze placard identifying the trail.  It wasn’t very long before I realized that the trail is a multi-use trail for I was being passed by mountain bikers.  The trail grade is gradual at this point which made warm-up good.  After about 1/2 a mile I came to the junction of where trail 100 crosses.  Just continuing straight was the direction I wanted to go.

Click on photographs to enlarge

Just Beyond the Junction	The Direction to the Top
A little Steeper	Squaw Peak
Near the Top	View From the Top
Camel Back	View of the Trail Head

Shortly after crossing trail 100, the trail became much rougher and steeper.  Staying to one side of the trail I was able to keep out of the skree and hike on the desert pavement which made the going easier.  I continued along the trail foe about another 1/8th of a mile and it turned to the left and became much steeper.  Shortly after turning I came to another fork in the trail.  At the fork was another trail marker in place that had a red arrow.  There ware also t girls coming up the trail behind me so I asked them if the arrow indicated the route to the top.  Having been assured by the girls that the arrow was correct I continued along that portion of the trail.  Shortly after that the trail became switchbacks, steeper and much more difficult to traverse.  It was well marked which made it easier though.  A little more than a mile from the start I came upon a saddle.  There were two peaks, one to the left and one to the right.  I opted for the trail to the peak on the right (the south peak).  That was the wrong choice I later found out.  To summit that peak the trail in often obscured and there is a lot of scurrying over the rocks.  I did accomplish the summit and it was well worth the challenge.  I later found out that most hikers' hike to the north peak where the trail is better.  I also was informed that there is another trail to the summit of that peak.  I guess I'll have to find that route on another hike.

In this hiker's opinion, this is an enjoyable hike.  Not to difficult but not to easy either.  I would definitely recommend this hike to other hikers in moderately good physical condition.

Upon checking the GPS I Ire informed that the trail length was in fact 10.5 miles like the Phoenix Parks map stated.  The elevations differed and as far as the trail being easy to moderate, I would classify it as only easy.  The only thing that might put it into the moderate class would be the distance.  The Charles M. Christiansen trail is a very enjoyable hike.  I would not consider it as a training hike for any of the more complex trails but is a wonderful trail for relaxation.

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Larry Wayt (gnhikn@cox.net)