Latest news with #CamelbackMountain
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr. hiked 'extremely difficult' Phoenix trail in July heat
PHOENIX - Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. hiked one of Arizona's most iconic sites over the weekend, donning a pair of blue jeans to climb the popular Camelback Mountain peak during what is often the state's hottest month of the year. Kennedy made the climb with his son, William "Finn" Kennedy. 'With Finn atop Camelback in Phoenix this morning,' Kennedy said, sharing a photo of the pair at 11:30 a.m. MST on July 19 on X. Camelback Mountain is an iconic Phoenix hiking destination. Both of Camelback's main trails are rated 'extremely difficult,' according to the city of Phoenix. The trails entail steep elevation gains, uneven terrain and 'a path that is unprotected from the elements.' 'Only experienced hikers' should attempt the trail 'during optimal weather conditions,' according to the city. The summit sits 2,704 feet above sea level. With Finn atop Camelback in Phoenix this morning. — Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) July 19, 2025 Kyle Herrig, 47, was headed down Echo Canyon Trail on July 19 when he encountered Kennedy hiking up the trail at around 8 a.m. The health secretary was with his son and two other young men, Herrig told The Republic, a USA TODAY Network partner. Herrig did a double-take when he realized who was walking toward him. He said hello to Kennedy and thanked him for the work he's doing at HHS. Kennedy then offered to snap a few selfies on the trail. The moment was particularly noteworthy for Herrig, who lives in Chandler, Arizona, because he has a passion for health and fitness. He's the owner of Triplex Training in Chandler and Scottsdale. 'I thought that was kind of cool,' Herrig said. 'Meeting probably one of the most influential health people in the country right now.' Kennedy's signature T-shirt and jeans made him 'even more recognizable,' Herrig said. Kennedy has been seen working out in denim countless times. 'I glanced at him, and was like, 'You're going old school today, huh? Rocking the blue jeans,'' Herrig said. 'He said, 'Yeah, that was a bad idea.'' Hiking Camelback Mountain in the summertime is not for the faint of heart. Dozens of people are rescued from Camelback Mountain each year because of its terrain. The Phoenix Fire Department encourages hikers to avoid hiking between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and stay off trails entirely during excessive heat warnings. The National Weather Service did not issue an excessive heat warning on July 19, the day Kennedy hiked Camelback Mountain with his son. The high temperature was 107 degrees and the low was 87 degrees on July 19, according to National Weather Service Warning Coordination Meteorologist Tom Frieders. Hikers should still be careful in those conditions, he noted. 'There's still a moderate heat risk, which means that it can be impactful, even fatal, if necessary precautions aren't taken,' Friders said. 'Any time temperatures are above 100 degrees, for sure, you need to definitely stay hydrated, and we still try to tell people to do those outdoor activities earlier on in the day when it's not as hot.' Kennedy's Health and Human Services Department oversees key government agencies including the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Indian Health Service and the Food and Drug Administration, among others. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not respond to a request for comment. Kennedy is a familiar face in Arizona. He made an official visit to the state in April, where he promoted the 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda and railed against ultraprocessed foods at the state Capitol. Last year, Kennedy ended his independent bid for president during an Arizona visit and endorsed President Donald Trump. Kennedy returned to Glendale to campaign for Trump, where made headlines by revealing that he was under investigation 'for collecting a whale specimen 20 years ago.' Stephanie Murray covers national politics and the Trump administration for The Arizona Republic and Reach her via email at and on X, Bluesky, TikTok and Threads @stephanie_murr. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: RFK Jr. hiked Phoenix's Camelback Mountain in July heat wearing jeans
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr.'s choice of attire while hiking in Arizona sparks online chatter
The Brief Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. was seen hiking Camelback Mountain in Phoenix on July 19. The hike sparked online chatter, however, as RFK Jr. was seen hiking in jeans, during a normally hot part of the year for Arizona. It is not known if RFK Jr. was in Phoenix for business or for vacation. PHOENIX - Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was spotted hiking Camelback Mountain over the weekend, and what he was wearing is causing some chatter on the internet. What we know "It really made my day, it was really cool," said Matt Larson, who met Kennedy on the trail. It's a meeting Larson said he will never forget. He said he was hiking Camelback Mountain when someone caught his eye. "I noticed what appeared to be a senior," said Larson. "I didn't have my contacts in, so I couldn't see very well, but he had a group of people around him, and they were very close to him, and I thought he must have had an issue, like fall or a heatstroke." As they were walking down the Echo side of the trail, Larson walked up to offer some water. "When I got close, I noticed the older person was talking politics to the people rescuing him," Larson recounted. "I remember thinking: wow, leave it to an old white, boomer guy to be talking politics on his potential deathbed." Then, the pieces started falling together. "At that point I was close enough, where I recognized him, and I was like 'woah. Is that [RFK Jr.]?" Larson said. Larson then asked the men with the Health Secretary, which he then realized were security, for a selfie. Larson said Kennedy himself snapped the photo. "It was about 92°, I think, temperature wise, at that point, so very impressive for him to have done that at his age," Larson said. Hiker Deric Keller, who took a selfie with Kennedy and a friend, said they met him around 6:00 a.m. when he first started up the trail. They said the weather wasn't too bad, and that they even chatted with him for a few minutes. Dig deeper Online, Kennedy posted a photo on his X page at the summit, garnering some admiration and some criticism for both the jeans attire and hiking in the heat. "I remember thinking, 'that wouldn't be my choice of hiking apparel in this weather,' but you know, kinda a generational thing," said Larson. "It's what my dad would have probably hiked in, so makes sense." Larson, however, added that "it is pretty risky to be hiking if you're not acclimated to our weather in the heat." Larson said politics aside, he's still in disbelief over the chance encounter on the hard hike. "I let a few of my friends know — I don't know if you know this, but RFK is actually in better shape than you," he said. The other side The Department of Health and Human Services communications team has not yet confirmed if Kennedy was in Arizona for business, or if he was on vacation. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
People Are Absolutely Dragging RFK Jr. For His Wild Hiking Outfit
Let's talk Phoenix, Arizona. Related: Currently, the temps are a *sensible* 100-something degrees. RFK Jr. decided it was good time to do a little hiking. He hiked this one, Camelback Mountain: Related: According to All Trails, it's a 2.6 mile hike with a pretty big 1,312 elevation gain. This is the pic he posted from the top: Related: Everyone is pointing out one thing... The jeans. Some people found it funny: "wearing jeans to hike camelback when it's 105° is hilarious." Related: Other people took joy in his (probable) misery: "Enjoying the fact that you must be chaffed and miserable af wearing jeans on a Camelback hike in July." We have this person calling it ghoulish behavior: "Hiking Camelback in jeans in the middle of July is such freak behavior I'm sorry. Get the fuck out of my city you ghoul." And this person wanted to call the FBI: "I want him arrested @FBI." I just truly cannot imagine! Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds: Also in Internet Finds:
Forbes
04-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
Playing Casa Blanca Again At A Reinvented Riad-Style Retreat In Arizona
Playing to the Casa Blanca development's original Moroccan-inspired design, the Paradise Valley townhome's current incarnation could have been uplifted from North Africa. A decades-old, black-and-white print advertisement, complete with a vintage-scrolly font reads 'Casa Blanca, Near Majestic Camelback Mountain – A Desert Paradise Where Summer Spends the Winter'. The Casa Blanca in question—an iconic Moroccan-inspired construction in Arizona's Paradise Valley —pre-dates the Oscar-winning, Morocco-set Casablanca (1944) by some stretch. Built in the 1920s by architect R.T. (Bob) Evans, the script for this Casa Blanca meanders through a fascinating past and present. Paradise Valley sits in the shadow of Camelback Mountain—a fitting landmark for Casa Blanca. Originally a private home, it was converted in the 1940s into a corporate retreat, mainly used by the Borg-Warner automotive company. The 1950s ushered in a new guise—as a hotel for stylish guests to see and be seen in for the next few decades. Eventually the entire property was divided up into private residences designed by Arizona architect George Christensen, with phased renovations starting in the 1980s. Thoughtful, not theme-y. The home's natural color palette is a cool mix of sand, sesame and unbleached linen. Even a crumb of traditional Moroccan tea biscuit. Two years ago, Phoenix-based Haute House Design and Interior's Jessica Ellingford and Jasmine Gray purchased one of the enclave's townhomes with full intention to renovate, remodel and sell. This 2,125 square foot fully redesigned home is now on the market and creating quite a stir, listed for $3.25 million by agents Jennifer Burgess and Siena Koppelman of RETSY. 'Buyers' agents have consistently told us that in all their years of selling homes in the Casa Blanca development, no one has taken a remodel to the level of this listing,' says Burgess. The complete remodeling of 5101 N Casa Blanca Drive 223 has been "taken to another level" by Haute House Design and Interior's Jessica Ellingford and Jasmine Gray. Quite the compliment, considering some of the area's most discriminating designers and prestige realtors have chosen to call the community home, she says. 'This is a real credit to Haute's thoughtfully planned design,' Burgess adds. 'Jasmine and Jessica really pay attention to existing structure when they incorporate their own design elements-they make it a passion project to honor the architecture.' That results in what she describes as 'a finished project that doesn't have what we call in the real estate business an identity crisis.' The property's designer-owners worked with Phoenix-based Lab Design Collaborative to transform what had been an outdated galley kitchen while honoring the home's existing internal architecture. The design duo hired architect Lab Design Collaborative to gut outdated areas like the galley kitchen, open up closed-off spaces and maintain the integrity of the Moroccan-Mediterranean style as created by the gated community's original architect. The residences of Casa Blanca remain whitewashed desert beacons, true to the original landmark. In the case of Casa Blanca, the original gate, with its "White City" whitewashed walls and domes, is somewhat of a landmark in Paradise Valley, proudly marking the entry into this storied property. Approaching the grounds, you notice rose and cactus gardens lovingly tended by professional landscapers, three heated swimming pools, plus tennis and pickleball courts—amenities you'd expect at a resort. All set against the dramatic tableau of Camelback Mountain. Highly textured lime-washed walls were achieved with a long-bristled brush application. "The imperfection is perfection." Throughout the townhome, or riad as these types of homes are referred to in Marrakesh, the Moroccan-style décor is thoughtful without being theme-y. A Mediterranean color palette mixes tones of unbleached linen, warm sand, sun-weathered terracotta, sesame and a Moroccan tea biscuit known as ghriba. A lime wash on ceilings and textured walls creates a soft, relaxing cocoon. 'The trick is finding a true artist to do the application,' says Gray. 'The paint can't be rolled on, it must be applied by a long bristle brush. It's like a painting—the imperfection is perfection.' Material selection for the refurbishment was meticulous. In the bath and shower areas, hand-cut Zellige shimmer with texture and patina. Materials were discerningly sourced—hand-selected limestone from Moroccan quarries for the bathrooms, Taj Mahal quartzite counter tops for the kitchen and laundry, and traditional Zellige hand-cut mosaic tiles in the showers. Then there are the striking creamy wooden elements. 'We love white oak and used that in the floors, cabinets, handrails and closets—it has such a warm texture,' notes Ellingford. Palecek lighting fixtures add texture in natural materials like seagrass and rattan—fitting for the atmospheric intentions of the designers. Outdoor living, lounging and eating beckons under the vibrant bougainvillea. Each flagstone tile was hand-selected and placed. Outside in the private courtyard, save for the exterior walls, the entire space was reimagined. A whitewashed built-in seating nook and outdoor kitchen with its cascading Bougainvillea inspires curling up with a verre beldi of mint tea. A flagstone pathway involved Gray and Ellingford going through 'crate by crate to choose every stone we were happy with, and where to place each one. It was a process.' Still, cool, quiet. But for the gentle sound of the fountain, a converted antique watering trough imported from Indonesia. And the fountain, essential to any Moroccan riad and often considered the center of the home, 'is our favorite piece in the house—it's a 100-year-old antique from a company in California that brings them in from Indonesia. They are watering troughs converted into fountains.' Another imported detail that feels right at home in this 'Desert Paradise' ready to turn the page into its next fascinating vignette. 5101 N Casa Blanca Drive #223—a turnkey property in Paradise Valley, Arizona—is on the market for $3.25 million with RETSY's Siena Koppelman and Jennifer Burgess. RETSY is a member of Forbes Global Properties, an invitation-only network of top-tier brokerages and the exclusive real estate partner of Forbes.
