Today started cooler than usual, a lot of clouds blocking out the sun. A big plume of moisture is headed into the state from the south, so the clouds knocked down the temperature but increased the humidity. But, it wasn't too bad. I had some morning obligations, then about 11:30 a.m., I wanted to get out for my daily walk. I elected to come here, seeing that I have not been here in many years. I could do a "walk-hike". This climb would not entail much effort or time at all. It would be something new for me. And I was bored silly sitting at home. All that conspired to prompt me to check the place out.

The drive wasn't far, about 8 miles from where I live. I got onto 48th Street on the Phoenix-Tempe city limits, then right onto Tempe Diablo Stadium Road. The butte rises behind the complex. I followed a few roads at random until I located myself north of the playing fields, on the Marriott grounds. Across from the main check-in area is a partially-paved trail that goes up the butte. I parked in a lot to the north, only one other car there.

I just carried my camera and a bottle of water. I walked up the road briefly to the let-in point onto the paved trail. I followed this up to a viewing platform situated between a smaller clump of rocks to the north, and the butte's highpoint to the south. Next, I walked up over rocks and trail to the top, all this taking maybe 10 minutes from my car.

The top was pretty cool. It is flat, and there is a natural opening in it, an arch, about a foot high and two feet in width. Up here I had good views of the main Diablo Stadium, the various other playing fields, the hotel, South Mountain, the buildings over by Tempe Butte, and lots of Phoenix looking north and west. There was a game going on below. Probably a low-A summer rookie league game. I've been to a couple over at the Cubs' facility (Sloan Park) near where I live. At one of those games, I spoke to a guy there who explained to me what was going on. He had a camera and lots of notes. I'm thinking he was a scout. He said these are mainly 17- and 18-year old kids fresh out of high school or from the Carribean. From the top, I could see the Angels players in their red tops, learning the finer points of playing baseball the Angels way, which will ensure the Angels will be a solid 4th-place team for years to come.

I was back to my car quickly. I was gone 20 minutes including my stops, and even though this was a short hike, I enjoyed it. The views from the top are worth it.

Next, I wanted to check out Bell Butte, which is the other main "twin" of this butte. Bell Butte lies about a half-mile northwest, with Interstate-10 passing through the low pass connecting these two buttes. But this was a no-go. It's fenced all the way around and I drove by the ingress point (a service road) and saw it was gated. This butte was not worth the hassle it would take to hike it. I just drove on by.

Since I was still in my hiking boots, I motored north to the Papago Buttes Park, where the Phoenix Zoo and Desert Botanical Gardens are located (I've been to both many times and they're worth it). I had no peaks on the agenda. Instead, I just wanted to walk some more, maybe get in another mile. It was warming now, but still tolerable, about 95 degrees. I parked in one lot and walked on trails through the desert brush, and partway up one hill, mainly to get some photographs. I walked a little more and returned to my car, this walk taking about 30 minutes. I was sufficiently sweaty by now.

From here, I ran a couple errands and drove back home to shower, eat a little and type all this up.