Take away the golf courses and the boutique stores. Take away the stuccoed houses with the Spanish tile roofs and the pool in every other yard. Take away the roads, the freeways and the office complexes. Take it all away, and listen.
Can you hear it?
Arizona is speaking.
The mountains have a direct line to even the most hardened soul. Running unabated across the desert floor, over creosote bushes and around noble Saguaro cacti, the call of the McDowell Mountains is languid and inexorable.
Nestled at the base of the McDowells, sits the planned community of McDowell Mountain Ranch. Residents of this thriving development have heard the call. With this backdrop, how could they not?
A little further north, and you reach the once sleepy retirement haven of Pinnacle Peak. It's namesake has become a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Far from its sleepy origins, very high end development has taken place in its shadow. Troon, Troon North and the ultra exclusive Silverleaf community with its multi-million dollar homes are nestled in the vicinity.
The famous Pinnacle Peak Patio steakhouse. Fair warning: Wear a tie, and it will be hanging from the ceiling by the time you leave!
Pinnacle Peak
Countless residents and hikers hear the call of Pinnacle Peak.
Not surprising, considering the vistas that greet them for the daily commute.
Head 10 minutes west of Scottsdale into Phoenix, and it is Piestewa Peak(formerly Squaw Peak) in the Phoenix Mountain Preserve that beckons. Whether hiking to the summit, stomping around the foothills or just stopping in the middle of your day to admire the majestic beauty of the eruption of rock that dots the middle of our Valley, The Preserves call to us all.
Can you see the ants marching?
And then there is the crown jewel of them all: Camelback Mountain.
Rising from the Paradise Valley floor, Camelback is the penultimate destination for Valley tourists, residents and weekend warriors alike. Offering a workout as nature lovers slog their way up its rocky spine, Camelback yields perhaps the best view of the Valley to be found in the metro Phoenix area. The 360 degree panorama provides an unrivaled vantage point for the downtown Phoenix skyline, along with its suburbs. I never tire of trying to locate my home in Scottsdale from atop the Camel's back.
If you want to hear the camel's whisper in your ear, it will cost you a fair penny. Homes located on the slopes of this treasured mountain are among the most exclusive in the Valley. But no matter how near or far, the call of this special mountain is always audible.
When you move to Scottsdale, Arizona, it's about more than a house and a job. You move here for the lifestyle. Once the desert vistas and mountain expanses have gotten into your soul, they never leave. Take it from this native son. No matter where I go on this earth, I am only home when I see the Praying Monk atop Camelback Mountain.
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For your move to Scottsdale, Arizona, look no further than Paul Slaybaugh with Realty Executives. A 2nd generation Scottsdale Realtor, Paul has been selling Scottsdale AZ Real Estate since 1999. He has been riveted by these mountains much, much longer. For an agent who is in tune with every facet of your relocation, give Paul a call today at (480) 948-9450!
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Paul: I lived in Arizona for 25 years and still enjoying coming back to visit family and friends....thanks for the photos. I don't miss the summers, but I'm sure it's awfully nice there right now.
Paul - I remember seeing Piestewa Peak from Scottsdale a little over a year ago when I was on vacation. It looks like a great hike.
There once was an agent named Paul
Who's father was named Slaybaugh
They sold real estate
In Arizona the great state
And posted great pics of it all!
Paul,
The beauty of Arizona still amazes me. Thanks for sharing, I have not been to Pinnacle Peak Patio since I was a kid.
PAUL - It is clear from your posts that you truly love Arizona and all that it has to offer. I can't imagine a time where you would live anyplace else in the world.
Hi Paul, Gary etc.. Remember when Pinnacle Peak Patio was WWAAYYYY out in the middle of no-where? :-) How come we only go when taking people from out of town? :-)
Another great job, my man..
Nick,
You are so right, Pinnacle Peak is now right in the middle of town. Funny how this city has become so big. I remember when the town had only about 800,000 people total and that included all the surrounding cities.
See Paul your post is bringing us back to memory lane.
Mike, it is gorgeous right now. I took the majority of these pictures yesterday in 68 degree weather. There are a few months out of the year when I would love to visit your new stomping grounds, but nowhere else I'd rather be the rest of the time. Thanks for your comment.
Ryan: That is a great little hike. Not quite as long or challenging as Camelback, but a great way to spend a morning/afternoon nonetheless. If you come back, we'll climb that sucker.
Matt, thanks for that! On your back, I give a big pat!
Gary, I love it up there. We have a listing in Troon Village right now which provides all the excuse I need to kill a day in these mountains.
Adam: When I was away at college all those years ago, I felt unattached without seeing the mountains. As soon as I got that diploma, I loaded up the car and headed straight home. I love this place.
Nick: I remember it well. Shoot, I remember when portions of Scottsdale Rd. and Cactus Rd. were still dirt! As kids, my sister and I dubbed the approach to Rawhide "Roller Coaster Road." Perhaps we should break the trend you speak of and find an afternoon to head on up there for a steak?
Gary: Anyone who has lived in the Valley for any substantial period of time can't help but take that trip down memory lane from time to time. It's great to see the old landmarks and preserved beauty intermixed with all of the development. Maintaining our local character is paramount.
Our families home on Val Vista and Southern was a dirt road back in the day! :-) My mom grew up on a ranch at indian bend in your neck of he woods.. 80 acres that I wish we had today!
Would love to meet for a steak lunch but still haven't given up on meeting the Slaybaughs at the train park either.. Let's schedule em in. :-)
Paul- You took some marvelous photos! This is great for your relo package to really get a feel for your area. But where are the trees? What do you do for shade?
The mountains of Az are truly gorgeous - especially in the colorful evening light. I can remember plenty of parties up on Camelback and the view is nothing less than spectacular. You can nearly see forever. It's just a shame the housing continues to encroach upon them and I hope to see an urban growth boundary established in the near future. Otherwise, these lovely pictures will be nothing more than a memory. Where will you live then?
Paul, Beautiful pics!
Paul - Pictures are workth a thousand words. But, I must say your descriptions enhanced the photos to the tenth power. What an excellent command of the language and how passionately you speak about the land you love. Thanks you for sharing your deep appreciation for the Scottsdale Arizona area.
Nick: Well placed link, my friend. 80 acres near Indian Bend? Shoot, I can walk there from my house. Don't feel badly that it is no longer in the family. That dirt would only be worth about 40-50 mil or so! Let's break out the calendars and plan something for the Railroad Park. That would actually be a pretty cool event to get some fellow area ActiveRainers on board for. So to speak ;)
Katerina: Trees? What trees? This is Arizona! You'll have to settle for palm, mesquite or palo verde trees unless you plan to live on a fairway out here. Thanks for looking in on this piece.
Jennifer: There are actually some pretty restrictive policies in place to curb development of these treasures. These natural wonders are vital to our culture. Should the mountains and desert ever fully yield to development ... I might just have to move to Portland :)
Marc: Thanks, buddy!
Marlene: You are more than welcome, and thank you for the glowing remarks!
Paul, i could soooo hug those mountain peaks... Not just hike up one of the slopes, but melt into the pink softness of it all and... Oh, darn it! Wish it were closer!
They are closer than you think, Inna. In fact, I would venture that you hear their call all the way out there in Florida louder than most locals. Close your eyes and melt right into the purple rocks as the sun dips beneath the horizon.
What a gorgeous area for sure Mr. Slaybaugh. Before my time here is up, I must visit this land you speak of, to see in person what those beautiful pictures convey to my eyes.
I remember my first trip to Arizona. I didn't expect there to be so many mountains surrounding the city. That was over thirty years ago. I never imagined that just a couple years later my family would move here. Now I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Excellent post.
Mountains are natures Cathedrals.
One of my favorite times in nature was with my band. We were on tour and between shows so we spent a couple nights camping at some lake in Arizona (I forget which). It was beautiful.
Paul, I Like your little hills up there in Scottsdale, but look at Tucson's Santa Catalina Mountain Range, and Tucson Mountains.
Anne
Beautiful indeed, Anne. I've visited many times. Two things, though. First, the mountains I focused on are right amidst the areas of the city where people actually live and work. Step out your front door and go hiking. Second, our little hills have the advantage of being surrounded by ... SCOTTSDALE!
Very tactful praise, Mr. Lenza. I thank you kindly, and tip my cap to this stratagem. :)
Beautiful photos Paul! You live in one of the most majestic parts of the country. Thanks for sharing the pictures.
My grandparents used to take us to Pinnacle Peak Patio. I forgot about that until I read your post. Scottsdale and the Phoenix area have a unique beauty. You are right- step behind the stucco and you will see the glory of the desert!
Paul - Great local piece. We had snow yesterday, so I enjoy the warmer pictures.
Paul it is absolutely lovely. Breathtaking really. What is the job market like? How do people make money there? I know how you do but they must move in for you to have a job!!!! The pics make me curious about the AZ area. Are you putting together a relocation package for the group Local Expert? If so, I can't wait to see it. Later in the rain, Deb
Paul,
Frost had nothing on you when he penned "the woods are lovely, dark, and deep..." Don't you wonder what he would have written if he lived near the mountains of Arizona?
Mike in Tucson
Paul - I love the photos! Thanks for reminding me about the Pinnacle Peak patio. It's been many, many years since I've been there.
I'm packing my bags... The mountains are unbelievable!
Paul, Arizona is just beautiful! I have several friends there and love to visit and just look at the beautiful scenery!
Hi Paul! Great photos. I'm a creeker (Cave Creek) and my favorite weekend activity is hiking. Spur Cross Conservation area (end of Spur Cross Road) is beautiful. Also, we are surrounded by State Trust Land that is absolutely exquisite. A yearly family pass can be purchased online for State Trust Land for something like $22. It's TOTALLY worth the investment. Right now (March) is perfect hiking weather. The wildflowers are starting to bloom and the snakes (most of them) are still in hiding! :-)
Hi Paul, The fiance and I were down your way in September. I did not get to see any of the mountains in your post, but Arizona is absolutely gorgeous!!!! We stayed in Scottsdale for a few days and did a drive through the Superstition Mountains.
This road was insane. Just a dirt road w/ major cliffs. I was terrified we were going to drive off the side of the mountain. The views were unreal though.
Then we did some off roading and found our own private beach. Nothing like a cool dip in the hot desert. We also stayed a few days in Sedona -also amazing, hit the West, South and East rims of the Grand Canyon -breath taking, saw Jerome, and finished it off w/ a few days at Lake Powell. That was my favorite part of the trip.
Pics of Lake Powell, We wer lucky enough to have the view in the pic to the left from our hotel balcony. We rented a boat for 2 days and still did not even see a 1/4 of this enormous lake. I can not wait to come back to your amazingly beautiful state! Lucky you to live in such a wonderful place.
Thanks for sharing all of those gorgeous pictures, Megan! You mentioned the Superstitions. You and Fayette (commenter directly above you) will appreciate this. My folks drove down there last week just to see the wildflowers. By all accounts, they are as resplendant this season as they have ever been. Check these out!
Wow, there were no flowers when I was there. It was dry, hot, desert - but pretty. I'll have to make my next trip to Arizona at the end of March then. How hot it it there now? It was well over 100 when we were there. It was'nt a humid hot like here though. I still can't get over how pretty those pictures are and how different it looks.
It's been mid to high 80s this week, Megan. Absolutely perfect. It does get rather warm in the summer, but as you noted, next to no humidity. I can handle the heat when it doesn't feel like you have a wet towel wrapped around you as soon as you step outside. I don't know how people can tolerate that.
Paul - fabulous pictures from everyone. My husband and I - with some friends - rode our motorcycle to Tortilla Flat last Sunday - the first time I had been there. It was breathtaking - and the wild flowers were resplendent - my new word of the week - thanks:) The view from my house is of the Four Peaks - another spectacular view.
Stephanie