In terms of sensory overload, the Pass Mountain Trail works sort of like an old-style 5-disc CD changer to deliver a cycle of ever-changing delights that, once engaged, just keeps on spinning.

The 7.5-mile route that loops through Usery Mountain Regional Park in Mesa and the urban-wildland interface of Tonto National Forest packs in the hiking equivalents of mellow slow dance vibes, sultry tangos and pounding hip-hop rhythms.

Accessible by way of convenient trailheads in the park, the rocky single track blends low desert strolls, a carousel of vistas and just enough raw mountain exposure to serve up one of the most diverse, close-to-town hikes in metro Phoenix.

Park rangers recommend taking on the loop from either the Wind Cave or Horse Staging trailhead in a clockwise rotation (begin by going left) for a longer but milder ascent to the hike’s scenic saddle.

For those who just want to get to the high-point vista and then double back, that’s the ticket. However, full-loop hikers should consider a counterclockwise (go right) approach. It’s harder that way, but it gets the difficult climbing over quicker and eliminates the chore of negotiating a steep, slippery down climb on tired legs.

Heading right from the Wind Cave trailhead, the trail almost immediately exits the park boundary and enters Tonto National Forest. The first relatively flat half-mile runs through classic desert vegetation and ruffled washes in the shadow of the pyramid-shaped Cat Peaks.

Over the next mile and a half, views of the Superstition Mountains rising above Apache Junction command the eastern horizon as the trail makes a northward bend and a barely noticeable ascent on the mountain’s east face.

Residual glimpses of rooftops and roads are soon swallowed up in the folds and drainage cuts of the mountain’s wild side.

A valley flush with saguaros sits below the destination — a U-shaped pass visible on the north ridgeline. The climb to get there isn’t too difficult until about a half-mile from the top where the route hangs on precipitous edges and a slickrock ledge for an appetizer of adrenaline before the trail emerges on the prize.

Bam! The wind-in-your-face jolt of stepping onto the 2,593-foot saddle is a jaw-dropping experience. With a single bend in the trail, the vistas make an explosive transition from saguaros and suburbs to layers of mountains and river valleys.

In the foreground, the blocky, colorfully layered Goldfield Mountains rise above a scoured divide. Behind them, the iconic Four Peaks and rows of wilderness peaks stand over the Salt River Valley.

Save for some minor drainage crossings and exposure, the remainder of the trail is just a moderate trudge that hugs the mountain’s eastern flanks, unspooling views of the Usery Mountains and hazy peeks at the McDowell range near Scottsdale before it swings south and descends to the base of Pass Mountain for the final 2-mile walk back to the trailhead.

A healthy, nutritious diet is the foundation of both health and beauty. Shahnaz Husain shares what you must include in your diet during the cold months.

Nature is actually the best physician and cosmetologist. She gives us fruits and vegetables, needed by the body for both health and beauty during the different seasons. In winter, we get fruits and vegetables which are beneficial to the body in cold weather. For instance, we get oranges, keenu and mousambi, rich in Vitamin C, which actually help to strengthen our immune system and protect us from colds, cough and respiratory ailments. Green leafy vegetables like lettuce, “palak”, “methi” and “sarson ka saag” are also rich in Vitamin C. In winter, the body also needs Vitamin A. So, have plenty of orange vegetables and fruits, like papaya and carrots. Amla, also available in winter, is the best source of Vitamin C.

Load up on vitamins

• In winters, your body needs extra nutrition. You need to load up on vitamins and consume a whole lot of veggies and fruits.
• Both Vitamin A and C keep the skin healthy and protect its youthful properties.
• Vitamins A and E help to keep the skin soft and smooth.
• Nuts and dry fruits are also available in winter.
• Include peas in your diet too. They provide proteins and maintain body heat. They also contain vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids. They are better taken unsalted.
• Snacks made from sesame seed (til) and peanuts are popular. There is enough evidence that natural foods improve the external appearance.
• Fruit and vegetable juices, freshly extracted, are ideal for making you look and feel better. Make them from seasonal fruits, like oranges, mausambi, pomegranate (anaar), or from carrots, spinach or cabbage. They help to cleanse and purify the system and prevent the accumulation of toxins. This reflects on the body, in terms of clear skin and shiny hair.

Keep your body warm with hot drinks

Winter is also the time for hot drinks. Instead of normal tea and coffee, try herb teas or soups. There are certain foods that actually help to keep our body warm. In Ayurveda, ginger is known as “a universal remedy” because it has so many benefits. Ginger tea can be taken after meals for digestion and for coughs and colds in winter. Ginger has to be boiled in water to make ginger tea. As everyone knows, ginger can also be added to a cup of tea. It is of particular benefit in winter. It can also be added to soups and chutneys and chewed raw. Black pepper and tulsi are also said to be useful in coughs, colds and respiratory congestion.

Traveling around the world is what keeps a lot of us from completely losing our minds in this hectic world. Visiting far-off places, learning about their cultures and values, trying new foods, experiencing the flora and fauna, visiting many sites enriches our minds with knowledge and cultural goodness which is never possible through watching documentaries on National Geography or other channels. However, greedy people who want nothing to do with tourists other than their money are found almost everyone on the face of the earth. If you happen to go out with a tour guide, you are somewhat safer, but if you choose to venture out alone, here are some tourism scams you might want to look out for.

1. Broken Taxi Meter- Taxi drivers close to air terminals or train stations are known to pull this trick, yet it can happen anyplace. When you get into a taxi and begin to drive, the driver will tell you that the meter is broken and charge you a ludicrous cost.
2. Overbooked Or Closed Hotel- This basic travel scam happens to a great extent with taxi drivers. While on the way to your inn, the driver will disclose to you your inn is either shut or overbooked and afterward take you to an increasingly costly inn where the driver gets a huge commission.
3. Free Bracelets Or Rosemary- This trick will, in general, go after female voyagers. An agreeable man or lady will way to deal with talk, at that point place a “free” kinship armlet on your wrist. Or then again give you a sprig of Rosemary for good karma. When you have it, they will request cash. When you deny, they will start to create a scene in the public.
4. Phony Police Officers- The phony cop trick is a prevalent one in numerous large urban communities. Frequently, an individual will approach a vacationer and offer illegal things, similar to drugs. While talking a couple of other individuals will approach, seeming, by all accounts, to be cops and brandishing fake badges. They will at that point demand the confused and scared voyager hand over their visa and wallet. Be that as it may, they are not cops.