Jack Pickett, Nadine Eder, Jo Clipperton, Coedy Hadden, Nancy Love, and Ann Rohlman (photographer)
Hikers Looking for Gold?
Check out the large pieces of quartz rock in this photo. Your PC Hikers searched for gold while exploring the Gloriana Segment of the 80-mile Black Canyon Trail. (This trail is part of the historic National Recreation Trail, a route used since prehistoric times by Native American Tribes. The Gloriana Trailhead is one of five access points with quartz outcroppings along with saguaro forests.) So, even though gold is often found in veins of quartz, just because there is quartz, there might not be gold.
Curious as to why gold is found with quartz? Check out the explanation at bcgoldadventures.com/why-is-gold-often-found-with-quartz. Since quartz is one of the last minerals to be crystallized, it has a chance to collect gold, filling the cracks, hence veins of gold. Unfortunately, the hikers didn’t find gold in this quartz, but they looked anyway; most Arizona gold is found by panning in and near rivers.
Join the PC Hikers to explore many parts of the valley. We offer hikes on six days per week, now with five different levels ranging from one to three miles on smooth surfaces with minimal elevation gain, to over 12 miles and unrestricted elevation gain. The regular hiking season ends in the first week of May with shortened hikes offered over the summer. Learn more at pchikers.org.
Left to right: Lynn Warren (photographer), Art Arner, Joe Clarkson, Randy Hellman, John Chrusciel, Diane Chrusciel, Henry Raczkiewicz, Sandy Mednick, Dennis Zigmunt (leader), Vince Van den Bosch, Malinda Jensen, and Atsuko Arner, pausing along the Ironwood trail with the scenic White Tanks in the background.
Hikers Launch EZ Hike
Lynn Warren
The hiking club strives to offer hikes appropriate to the fitness and desires of its members. Although the club has traditionally offered hikes at the “A,” “B,” “C,” and “D” levels, the club recently recognized that there was a need for an easier level with shorter distance and little elevation gain that would appeal to hikers just wanting to get a little exercise in the Arizona out-of-doors, or to hikers going through some type of rehabilitation while regaining the stamina required for higher levels of hikes. On March 18, 12 hikers participated in the inaugural EZ hike, a scenic 2.6-mile loop in the nearby White Tanks. Why not join the hiking club and you, too, can enjoy interesting and scenic areas like this with a great group of people; visit the club website at pchikers.org for more information and photos.
Front: Mary Hill, Diana Bedwell, Barb Kripps, Laurie Rosenbloom, Linda Schmillen, Ann Rohlman; back: Ruth Bindler, Kay Thomas, Gary Bray, Julie Walmsley, Tom Wellman, Martha Hadden, Coedy Hadden, Susie Nordinger, and Leon Mosse (photo by Dana Thomas)
Hiking White Tanks Regional Park
Ruth Bindler
White Tanks Regional Park is a favorite hiking venue of the PebbleCreek Hikers. After a rainfall in early April, a group of 16 hikers trekked from the White Tanks library to the waterfall. While there is often little more than a puddle in the pond at the base of the falls, on this day the hikers were rewarded with flowing water cascading down the granite cliffs and escaping the pond via the rock stairs that ascend to the falls. The surrounding greenery and variety of wildflowers provided a bonus, as did the desert tortoise that appeared in its enclosure at the nature center near the end of the hike. We never can predict what we will see on a hike! For more information about the club’s hikes visit pchikers.org.
The octogenarian hikers: Les Reister, Dennis Zigmunt, Freddie Wilson, Doug Jamiolkowski, Gary Bray, Jim Gillespie, and Lynn Warren. Two other members of the group were traveling and not able to attend the hike: Art Arner and Atsuko Arner. Congratulations to all! (Photo by Lynn Warren)
Hike Honors Octogenarians
Ruth Bindler
We all know that physical activity and socialization with others enhances our physical and mental well-being. So it should come as no surprise that the PC Hiking Club has many members who can easily accomplish miles and elevation climbs. On a recent sunny morning, the club arranged a shorter hike that would introduce club members to the lovely area available for walking that begins behind the Goodyear City Hall and library, and continues along the Bullard Canal. Forty-one members of the club met to complete the walk, honor the hikers who are over 80 years of age, and share some refreshments. The average age of hikers that day was 71 years, and seven persons were over 80 years. Visit the website, pchikers.org, to learn more about the varied hikes that are led each week, as well as to read about important things to carry when you hike and tips for staying safe in hot weather.