LHC Hiking the Lizard Peek Trail (Thursday, April 14th, 2016)

We called our friend Linda last night to see if she would want to go on a hike with us today.  We have tried in the past to find the trail to Lizard Peak, but haven't had any success.  So we have done some more investigation and we think we can find it now.  It looks like it will be a pretty rigorous hike, but it should be fun.

Linda came over to our house at 8:15 this morning, and by 8:30 we were at the trail head parking lot. The hike we are doing starts in Sara Park, just like the "Crack in the Mountain" hike that we did back on February 21st, but instead of following the wash down to the lake, it heads to the top of the highest mountain peak, called Lizard Peak.

I took a picture from the parking lot of the peak we will be hiking to.  If you look closely, you can see a tiny square on the top of the highest point.  That is a picnic table.  Strange, but true!

A zoomed in picture of the picnic table

Steve standing in the wash trying to figure out where the trail starts.  It always seems so clear when you are using the map at home.  Then you get to the actual locations and everything changes!

He thinks he has it!

Off to the left of the wash, by the trail to Lizard Peak is yellow marker 7

Off to the right is this rock and small marker.  This is the trail.

As you start up the trail to Lizard Peak, there is a 80 foot long geoglyph of a lizard.  You can see it most of the way up the trail to Lizard Peak, and hence the reason this hike is called the Lizard Peek Trail.  

The elevation in the main wash is 765 ft, we then climbed to the saddle at an elevation of 1190 ft, then to the peak with an elevation of 1370 ft.  This trail was established in 1982 by Tim O'Connor and the Leaping Lizard Tribe who hand carried the table to the top and built up the grade with army shovels.  Tim O'Connor also developed the huge rock lizard visible below.

This geoglyph is made of stones placed in the shape of a lizard

Steve and Linda on our way up.  The terrain is not bad near the bottom.

A picture of me, taking a picture of them!

There is a trail that goes around the base of the rock peak, but we want the one that goes to the top

About two thirds of the way up the front face, we reached three ledges, one after the other.  They were difficult ledges, but I typically like that type of challenge.  They wouldn't have been a problem if my fear of heights hadn't kicked in. They weren't that hard to navigate, but below the ledges was a huge drop off that just wasn't working for me.  So I started my yoga breathing and scampered up the ledges.  Steve said I flew up them.  I really don't recall much of it!  If I had come along these ledges going down instead of up, I don't think I could have done them.  The sight of the drop-off below them would have stopped me in my tracks!

Steve coming out of the ledges

Once we got through the ledges, we hiked a bit further and then came to the saddle between the two peaks.  The view from the saddle was really pretty!

Just reaching the saddle

The view to the northwest as we stood in the saddle

The view directly west from the saddle

The saddle following the ledges is the dip on the far side of the picture

Once we took a few pictures on the saddle, we continued up to the peak, just following the terrain straight up the loose, steep slope. Again, I had another panic attack.  Steve had to assure me that there was another way down, because if I continued, I would not be able to come back down this way.  My fear of heights was really getting in the way of this great hike.

We finally made it to the top and had a 360 degree view. Totally amazing! It was fun to see the world around us from every angle. We spent about 30 minutes at the top before we started back down (from the other direction).  : )

From the top, we could see where our truck was parked.  It's the second one from the left.

Copper Canyon on the far side of the lake

Steve pulling up the computer so I could do a little work.  There was great cell coverage up there!

Before we left the top, Steve decided to do a panoramic video

Sign on the red table

There were also some really nice views as we made our way back down the other side.

I love this double arch

Steve and Linda on our way back down

We could see the lizard geoglyph from this side of the peak too

These are the switchbacks coming down the south side of the peak.  It's not nearly as steep as the north side, and no panic attack areas!!!

Steve and Linda part way down

The last pictures serve no other purpose than to help us find the southern route to Lizard Peak again.

When you see the .6 mile marker, go a little further (where Steve is), then look for the big rock and the red arches off to the right.

When you see this large boulder in the wash, look to the right.  You should be see a red sand "arch", and the trail going up to the saddle.

Another view of the red sand "arch" (left) and the trail heading up (right)

A close up view of the red sand arches

At the beginning of the southern trail, you will see this arrow (if it's still there)

We had a nice snack of grapes and fig newtons at the red picnic table, and had some more when we got back to the truck.

After some great exercise during the day, we treated ourselves to yummy pork chops on the grill for dinner, in the great atmosphere of our own back yard.