South Mountain hiking in Phoenix, Arizona kicks off Dave's training for an Everest Base Camp trek and a Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike. This video explores the huge desert park between Ahwatukee and Phoenix during his eight week US stay. Desert trails, saguaro views, and serious preparation mileage.
South Mountain Park
Dave hikes South Mountain Park, located in the south part of Phoenix, Arizona, between the area known as Ahwatukee and the city itself. One of the largest municipal parks in the United States, it offers miles of desert trails with saguaro cactus, rocky ridges, and wide views over the Phoenix valley.
Training for Two Big Hikes
The outing is a preparation hike for two major goals: an Everest Base Camp trek in March and April, and a Grand Canyon Rim to Rim hike in late May. Both demand serious endurance, and stacking regular desert hikes in the weeks before departure is Dave's strategy for arriving trail ready.
Eight Weeks in Arizona
Dave explains he is in Arizona for the next eight weeks or so, but reassures viewers there is still plenty of Thailand content to share alongside the training videos. It is a glimpse of the behind the scenes work that goes into the channel's biggest adventures, filmed during a winter visit home. The cooler winter months also make desert hiking far more pleasant than the brutal Arizona summer, which is why locals fill the trails this time of year.
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