PC Hiking Club Diary

Backpacking on the Arizona Trail

Lynn Warren

Arizona Trail (AZT) is part of a system of trails designated by Congress as “National Scenic Trails” and is approximately 800 miles long, running the length of Arizona from the border with Mexico to the Arizona-Utah border at Stateline Campground, and is divided into 43 “passages,” averaging 18-miles each. Although several passages were closed because of fire danger, the northern passages were open so on June 30 and July 1 five PC hikers hiked and backpacked through scenic pines, junipers and sagebrush meadows of Passage 42 (17 miles) and 43 (11 miles). Temperatures in Phoenix were triple digits but because of higher elevation, highs for the backpackers were only in the 80s. The hiking club challenges the summer heat two days a week and occasionally undertakes a backpacking adventure such as this; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.

Exploratory hike of Cornville’s new trail system

Pete Williams

On June 28 six hikers from the PebbleCreek Hiking Club did an exploratory hike on Cornville’s new trail system. It was a great day to do a hike in the higher elevation (4000 feet) near Cottonwood. These trails offered expansive views of the surrounding area, including Cottonwood, Jerome and the red rocks of Sedona. We found two chairs and a “dehydrated hiker” along a wash on the trail. This “hiker” was a reminder for us to stay hydrated, especially in the summer!

The club is currently doing summer exploratory hikes in an effort to find new trails for the club. The next club meeting will be September 20 and the new hiking season starts September 24.