Outdoor Life at South Mountain:

South Mountain Park is a great local resource. It is also a good training ground to get yourself into shape. You need to be in good condition to safely attempt the more extended adventures into the Arizona landscape. The desert can be unforgiving. There are many wonderful, wild places in Arizona. Researching your destination is as important as conditioning, planning, and supplying your adventure.

Here is a list of helpful books:

• Deserts: The Audubon Society Nature Guides, by James A. MacMahon
• The Great Southwst Nature Factbook, by Susan J. Tweit
• Arizona Handbook: Moon Travel Handbooks, by Bill Weir
• 100 Hikes in Arizona: The Mountaineers, by Scott S. Warren
• The Hiker’s Guide to Arizona, by Stewart Aitchison and Bruce Grubbs

Here are some useful Websites for exploring the many possibilities:

Hiking Arizona http://www.azcentral.com/travel/hiking/hikingindex.html

Desert Hiking &Climbing Trails http://www.desertusa.com/Thingstodo/du_ttd_hike.html

Go Take a Hike http://pages.citenet.net/users/ctmx1141/arizona.htm

Todd's Desert Hiking Guide
http://www.toddshikingguide.com

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