I'm going to kick that mountain's ass. #piestewapeak
I'm tackling the Piestewa Peak Summit Trail next month in Phoenix. I made it halfway up a few years ago. This time, I'm going to finish the job.
https://www.phoenix.gov/parks/trails/locations/piestewa-peak/hiking-trail-map
Sounds amazing! You can do it!
Allow me to offer some unsolicited advice: Bring good hiking boots, a real backpack with a water reservoir, a hat and hiking poles.
Wear no cotton! Leave those jeans at home. You want lightweight wicking fabrics that breathe. Merino wool socks are also a must. People really underestimate how important your gear becomes on challenging terrain.
On Saturday's hike (which was only 10K but turned out to be mud and ice the entire time, up and down some steep hills), we had a noob. Mr Noob loved walking but also had big feet (size 15), which made it difficult for him to find hiking boots in regular stores. He was wearing the sturdiest boots he owned: leather Dakotas with steel toes. He was used to wearing them at work and walked a lot for a living and found them very comfortable. Ok, fine.
Halfway through this very sweaty annoying hike, which took four hours, he started mentioning that his heel was hurting. Turns out he was wearing cotton socks and had a wicked hot spot/blister. We were able to tape him up to get through the last 5K, but he was limping and miserable the rest of the way, with sweat-soaked cotton socks on his feet. He would not have had such a major issue had he been wearing wool socks.