Lynn Warren
Highway 93 between Wickenburg and Wikieup is known as the Joshua Tree Parkway and has impressive groves of Joshua Trees on both sides. On October 13, twelve hikers experienced what can best be described as a meander (since there are no real trails) through desert terrain about 25 miles north of Wickenburg and enjoyed many close-up views of these unusual members of the agave family. A highlight of this Sonoran Desert hike was finding the rare combination of Joshua Trees with a Saguaro growing close by, as seen in the picture above. The hiking club enjoys interesting hikes such as this all around the valley five days a week; check out the club’s website at PCHIKERS.ORG for more information and pictures.
Lynn Warren
Thirteen club members visited the Granite Mountain Hotshots Memorial on the outskirts of Yarnell on October 12, just two days after the special premier of the movie Only the Brave in Tempe. The 3.5-mile trail to the memorial is a challenging hike up .ery steep slope followed by a descent of more steep terrain to flatter ground where the memorial is located. Although the challenging nature of the trail limits who might visit the memorial, it gives one a feel for the difficult terrain that hotshots often must negotiate. The memorial also emphasizes the danger and rapidly changing conditions which may confront these firefighters. On the return to the trailhead, the experience became more personal since the hikers met the parents of one of the hotshots along the trail on what would have been his 33rd birthday. The club hikes five days a week all around the valley and offers interesting hikes for almost every fitness levels visit the club website at PCHIKERS.ORG for more information and photos.
Pete Williams
The PebbleCreek Hiking Club did an eight-mile hike in Prescott on October 30. The highlight of the hike is the number o.ery large Alligator Junipers in the area. Standing in front of the largest one are, left to right, Atsuko Arner, Ann Rohlman, Sandy Mednick, Alex Elijew, Dennis Zigmunt, Nadine Eder, Linda Vaughn, Charlene Elijew and Art Arner. Pete Williams was the hike leader and photographer. The club does day hikes as close as Verrado and as far away as Prescott and Sedona. The club meets on the third Thursday of each month (September through April) at 7:00 p.m. in the Tuscany Falls Ballroom.
Pete Williams
On November 6, 25 members of the PebbleCreek Hiking Club did a hike to Indian Mesa (in the center above the hikers), located just north of Lake Pleasant. Indian Mesa is an ol.illage built on top of the mesa. There is only one rather steep, easily defended way to the top. We are standing in an area of Lake Pleasant that is underwater for part of the year. Right now the lake is low and we haven’t had rain in a couple of months. Hikers that day included (l-r) back row: Clare, Charlene, Dave, Ron, Joe, Art, Tom Wayne, Roger, Dana, Alex, Judy, Mark, Les, Mark and Lynn (photographer); front row, Linda, Nadine, Kris, Atsuko, Pete, Nancy, Dennis, Marilyn and Bill. The club does eight hikes a week at three hike levels ranging from 4 to 12 miles. For more information about the club as well as additional photos, pleas.isit our website at pchikers.org.